I gather that you plan to undertake a state visit to the US near the end of this month.
Much of Europe, and the wider world, now understand that Trump is a malignant narcissist, in that his only concern seems to be enriching his family and their associates, as well as being in the news as much as he can. In addition, most of Europe realise that Trump lies constantly, and cannot be trusted to follow through with anything he says. Indeed he has most recently suggested that the US may pull out of NATO, the most successful organisation which has underpinned much of the postwar peace of Europe. Not only has he started a bombing campaign against a nation which posed no immediate threat to the US, UK or Europe, he seems to believe that swearing about the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, in a post and then insulting Muslims in the signoff, is a sensible way to behave. I suspect that being apparently accepting of this will not be popular with the Muslim communities in the UK or in the Commonwealth. I find it difficult to understand how visiting Trump could be considered a reasonable thing to do. You will be used as a prop simply to give him the aggrandisement he craves. It is doubly disturbing that your Prime Minister seems to think that pandering to Trump will somehow engender some political benefit for him, his party, or the nation. It will not. This, coupled with Trump’s call for the commission of war crimes in Iran makes it even worse. It will just be seen as another instance of his the Prime Minister’s abysmal judgement. Indeed, it will be another embarrassing instance of his apparent unconditional servility, except this time, it will have your imprimatur.
I cannot imagine why the head of any government on this planet would want to visit Trump, unless they view a trip to the US as similar to looking at monkeys in the zoo. “Look, dear, that one can hang by one arm! And there’s one trying to walk upright! Aren’t they just the cutest things! Can we buy one and take it home?”
Emily,
It certainly is anthropologically interesting in a frightening kind of way.
Just make sure you take a wide berth when they start flinging their own poo at you!
I agree with every word and like the butterfly and the candle getting too close one gets burned
Charlie,
Excellent analogy.
I was initially against the visit but on further consideration I can see the strategy. Trump is a known royalty fanboi and is so venal that he’ll believe that he’s somehow special because royalty wants to visit him. The warm and fuzzy feeling he gets from rubbing shoulders with people with “class and standing” will likely help mend relations with the UK in the short term. But even better it will be great viewing watching him cowtowing to his betters after the bullying and and belittling treatment of Zelenski and other heads of state. Seeing Trump prostrating imself at the feet of British royalty will also come as a shock to some of his adoring supporters. who’ll be wondering why their god is grovelling to a couple of foreigners.
Jon,
I think it has gone beyond that now. Trump has just threatened to wipe Iranian civilisation out completely. Anyone even saying that must be ostracised and made accountable. Mending relations with the UK would only ever be temporary, as he is so erratic that all is temporary.
Trump has neither filters, nor feelings (other than for himself). Was musing today on the Australian coverages (that I’ve seen or read) of the Trump-Netanyahu war. How is it that most of them concentrate not on the inhumanity, the human suffering, but on the destruction? Is it lazy journalism, war/empathy fatigue, hunting for clicks, waning public interest…..?
Jon,
I cannot understand it beyond presuming that it is a combination of clickbait journalism and ownership of the media by those who want to maintain the status quo. There was a very interesting article by Nick Bryant today about his time in the mainstream media. It is worth a read. https://substack.com/home/post/p-194154549
Pointed and very well articulated piece by Bryant.
kowtowing…