When I wrote a blog four years ago congratulating President Biden on his win and wishing him well I got some critical responses. I respect the democratic judgement of US voters, and the office of President . Today I offer my congratulations to Donald Trump and wish him every success. I like his drive for peace in the world. I support his aim to lower taxes, reduce regulation and promote growth and greater prosperity.
Four years ago I was conscious I did not support some of Mr Biden’s policies. I praised him for saying his aim was to unite a divided country, though said that would prove difficult. Unfortunately he did not carry it out.
It turned out he had as an aim preventing Mr Trump from running again. He and his Administration tried all manner of allegations and lawfare tactics to stop him. The Democrats found it just made Mr Trump more popular with his followers. They failed in their self appointed main task, and deepened the divisions within the country by trying to say the main Opposition party’s views and policies were unacceptable or illegal.
Today President Trump says he will be a force for peace in Ukraine and Gaza. He will strengthen NATO, as the peace of the democracies is secured by showing strong defence. He says he will lower taxes and cut the costs of government. That will reinforce faster US growth and should be an example to the UK and the rest of Europe. He will liberate business sufficiently to boost jobs and investment. He will help the West by expanding output of gas, leaving us less dependent on Russia and the Middle East.
I wish him and the USA well. I urge the UK government to think again about how they work with our main ally. Keeping the Chagos and keeping our current Ambassador in post would start to correct the damage they have done to the relationship.
January 20, 2025
Both USA and the UK suffer the legacy of the Democratic party which has indulged its antipathy to the UK, and Labours vocal dislike of the Republicans.
The Democrats ” Get to the back of the queue”, and their running, unannounced , retreat from Afgahnistan clearly clarified their attitude to the UK. Labour’s stream of invective towards Trump, and their overt support for Harris during the 2024 presidential election leaves them with their metaphoric knickers round their ankles. Their choice of a chinophile ambassador only emphasises the fact, accompanied by the Chagos fiasco, to top it off. Both the Democrats and Labour are a threat to World stability. The welcome but questionable peace in Gaza, that everyone seeks to take credit for, seems to me, with Hamas still in place, a very fragile affaire. I hope Trump spells out to Iran and its proxis the consequences of any out of line reversion to their evil aims. I put the chances of a civilised relationship between Palastinians and Israel as at best slim.
There is hope that the insanities of Labour will learn something from a successful Trump presidency, but I doubt it. Paganism to the Pope is not in their DNA.
January 20, 2025
Donald is an Anglophile and probably truly appalled at what’s happening to our once proud country
The wokerati will be having fits of vapours at his thoroughly sensible agenda
Most of the developed world is heading to the right, Britain being an outlier having a communist inspired government. When MAGA kicks in and the USA economy bounces back, maybe just maybe the people of Europe will see what a blind alley they’ve been led down with their Net Zero, Mass immigration and other ruinous polices.
Just keep Nigel onside and the very best wishes to Donald.
January 20, 2025
Good morning.
Sir John, apart from the Chagos Islands I do not think President Trump gives a stuff about the UK and the EU. As for NATO I am sure he will push for his demand that they spend the 5% of GDP on defence expected as this will benefit USA defence contractors the most.
He needs to see and end to fighting elsewhere as China is currently building Invasion Barges – Go to H.I. Sutton (YT & Website) for more details. It is clear both China and North Korea are going to be the subject of USA attention for the rest of the century as Europe slowly descends into a political, economic and social backwater.
President Trump will be more interested in sorting out internal matters and those along the Canadian and Mexican borders. He wants to project strong leadership and a desire to reassert USA world hegemony.
Those here in the UK need to wake up to our ever diminishing role and position in the world, much like Spain has.
The one good thing however, is this administration may prove to be the much needed catalyst for root and branch change here in the UK. We need to recognise that the ‘Blair Reforms’ have done monumental harm to our country and we need to ditch the lot.
January 20, 2025
Well said; a rather more balanced view IMHO. Criticising another nation’s legal system in the manner above is treading on thin ice.
We know Trump’s driving instincts, and they are not benign. Being more unfettered than last time I think we can expect a ‘wild ride’, as one of his occasional supporters said.
January 20, 2025
I do think Trump and at least some senior members of his team do care about the UK but mainly out of self-interest of course. Post WW2 we have always been their most dependable ally. Nigel will be doing his best to ensure that continues. He certainly did a great deal to scupper the Chagos betrayal.
The EU is a different matter: it has been “taking the proverbial” over trade with the USA for decades, as well as its major members failing to pay even the minimum NATO contribution towards their own defence. That’s now going to stop. I’m going to enjoy watching the Kommissars howl with fury.
January 20, 2025
I wish him well. Thank God he survived so far, and got elected. It’s exciting, and will be fascinating to see whether he can diminish blob power. He’s not divine though, and is bound to make some mistakes along the way.
Meanwhile he’s got several hundred executive orders ready for signing today, to undo some the madness of the last administration (leaving the Paris accord, ending DEI in government, ending most of the gender nonsense etc). Such measures will be reminders of what fools we are in the UK and Europe.
I agree with others here: we are at best a peripheral interest for the USA who will get no favours, and we better accept and get used to it.
January 20, 2025
The American people have refused to “go quietly” into an authoritarian Socialist future. They voted emphatically for a New Dawn and to clear out their Deep State.
I hope we do the same at the next opportunity. We must vote to destroy the Establishment’s Uni-Party and elect a Government which will do what is necessary to dismantle Blair’s Socialist Settlement and will clear out The Blob.
January 20, 2025
Trump was notably successful in foreign policy last time when he de-escalted the situation in North Korea (conveniently forgotten by his opponents) and ensured that Russia didn’t invade anyone (unlike under Obama and then Biden). Already just his threat to Hamas has ensured they have finalised a hasty peace with Israel in advance of his inauguration. Let us see what he can achieve in Ukraine. And also let’s see if EU and some other countries start to spend more on their own defence instead of relying on USA (mostly) and UK taxpayers to do it for them. Spending on defence as % GDP: Spain 1.3%, Belgium 1.3%, Canada 1.4%, Italy 1.5%, UK 2.3%, USA 3.4%.
Starmer is in Davos this week I suppose, amongst all his globalist open-border chums discussing how terrible Trump is.