As the 45th President of the USA, Donald Trump has successfully managed to downgrade his country’s special relationship with Britain to a new historical low. At the time of writing, Trump has been president for 618 days – each of these days has represented the downgrading of America’s relationship with Britain and its other allies in the European Union and the Middle East.
This is not some sort of liberal, snow-flake generated sentiment. Instead, it represents what many Londoners think of the USA since Trump took office less than two years ago.
He is coming, but he isn’t actually coming. Time and time again, the British Prime Minister, Theresa May, made an overarching and servant-like effort to give Donald Trump a grandiose welcome. But it has been met with fierce rejection and profound disapproval from her colleagues in Westminster and indeed from all over the country. This was highlighted by the comments of John Bercow, the Speaker of the House of Commons, who stated “an address to both Houses of Parliament… is an earned honour”. John Bercow further insisted that the American President “has not earned that honour”.
John Bercow’s comments were certainly representative of the public attitude to Trump’s potential state visit. In fact, 55 per cent oppose a state visit, while only a mere 31 per cent are in favour, according to YouGov. This surely isn’t a sign of a healthy and rosy marriage between Britain and the USA. Rather, these are the first splinters of a downward relationship.
Remarks dismissing an honourable welcome for Donald J. Trump are in steep contrast to the welcome given to the Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammad Bin Salman in March earlier this year. Columnists, government ministers and public attitude were incredibly euphoric and jubilant. There were articles about Saudi Arabia’s promising future, government ministers were happy to increase trade with one of their closest Middle East allies and the public was optimistic about the Kingdom’s progressive plans to liberalise its archaic rules and institutions.
In other words, Trump has achieved the unthinkable: he has lowered his country to below that of Saudi Arabia, a country which still stages public executions, treats women as second class citizens and regularly suppresses people’s right to freedom of expression. That is truly an achievement to be acknowledged, albeit not with a Nobel Prize like some of his Republican colleagues want him to be awarded. A prize, titled, Greatest Traitor, would be much more worthy and deserving.
Britain’s relationship with the USA was never as strained as it is now under previous administrations. For instance, there was no fuss and zero-controversy over whether President Obama should be given the honour to address both Houses of Parliament in London’s Westminster Hall. Likewise, Britain happily responded to George Bush’s call in 2003 to invade Iraq and topple Sadam Hussein.
Whether it was the War on Terror or sanctions against Russia’s aggressive polices, from restoring peace in Afghanistan to establishing democracy in Libya – the UK and the USA presented a united front, it was like a marriage made in heaven. As NATO members, their targets were clear and concise. And, as members of the G7, they shared numerous policy areas.
It was an indestructible bond where the challenges of the past and present were conquered together, which is why it made it so special and unique, a bond that was envied by other countries.
However, Donald Trump has put this relationship status on the brink of collapse by bashing NATO, imposing tariffs on America’s closest allies, going soft on Russia, ripping up the Iran deal, demeaning liberal policies, withdrawing from the UN Human Rights Council and the list goes on and on…
Each of the above decisions has lowered the USA in the eyes of its allies, most importantly in Britain’s. Even worse is the fact that Trump’s recent policies have also harmed America’s allies.
Threating to slash funding to NATO poses a profoundly existential threat to the organisation, approaching Russia with a soft hand will leave Europe vulnerable to Putin’s unlawful actions, imposing tariffs will undoubtedly harm the economy of several allies and withdrawing from the UN Human Rights Council undermines the West’s fundamental principles.
Amidst this gloom and darkness, there is hope. That hope rests in the hands of the electorates, Democratic Congressional candidates and of course Robert Mueller. Each of these three can successfully numb the destructive effects of the current administration.
It will be more important than ever before for people to turn out in November’s Congressional election; it represents a golden opportunity to bin Trump’s policies. Handing control to Senate and House Democrats would effectively nullify the President’s self-destructive agenda and therebythe balance of power would be shifted away from Trump.
Despite the widespread anti-Trump sentiment, Democratic candidates should under no circumstance take their support-base for granted like they did in 2016. Rather than take a top-down approach, they ought to construct a bottom-up approach. Candidates should get to know what matters to their constituents and not obsess about their own interests;the candidates’ policy platform must reflect people’s concerns.
While Robert Mueller must conduct his investigations within the realm of the constitution, he must speed up this process to prevent irreversible damage to the USA’s democratic integrity.
Therefore, this relationship and America’s standing in the international community can be salvaged, saved and restored by to its former glory by tackling the problem head on: remove Trump. Vote out Congress Republicans in November, vote out Trump in two-years’ time, or even better: impeach him. These three steps, especially the first two, are vital to restore America’s friendship network with its allies because Republicans are too timid to oppose Trump’s doctrine and only a Democrat controlled Congress can hence do so.
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Muhammed Raza Hussain is an award-winning writer: he is the Extra-Mile winner of the News Quest Young Reporter Scheme 2014 and received a certificate for Talent for Writing by Young Writers. Twitter @MuhammedRaza786 | Instagram: M.Raza.H_ | Facebook: @MRazaHOfficial
