Donald Trump is a wannabe dictator and the UK should treat him as such
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As Donald Trump returns to power and begins trampling on hard-fought progress, democratic norms and human rights, the only response consistent with the United Kingdom’s global responsibilities is to re-think the ‘special relationship’ in 2025. And here’s my solution – we ditch it.
![[WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: (L-R) U.S. President Donald Trump takes the oath of office as his wife Melania Trump holds the bible and his son Barron Trump looks on, on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In today's inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_234628817-3f2c.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
For too long, Britain has held tight to the notion that we should stand by the States, no matter who sits behind the famous White House desk. We’ve seen this blind loyalty time and again: from Tony Blair’s unwavering support for George W. Bush, which led to the illegal invasion of Iraq, resulting in the death and displacement of millions of innocent lives, to the current rush of British politicians to placate Trump.
But Trump’s record speaks for itself: He has actively undermined democracy, praised authoritarian rulers, and done everything he can to sow distrust and division in his country. He attempted to overturn a legitimate election result, trashed the fundamental principle of a free press – going as far as saying he wouldn’t mind someone ‘shoot[ing] through the fake news’ – inflamed tensions with minority communities, and condoned violence among his supporters.
![[Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents after an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler, Pa., July 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_231651424-4dd6.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
His administration’s policies tore children from their parents at the border, mishandled the Covid-19 crisis at the cost of countless lives, rolled back protections for LGBTQ+ people, and began a nationwide hacking away of abortion rights. If these devastating acts happened in a democratic country anywhere else, Britain would be the first to speak out. Yet here we are, with politicians from all parties preparing to ‘make nice’ with Trump.
![[LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM NOVEMBER 21: Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs David Lammy poses outside 10 Downing Street ahead of his meeting Minister for Foreign Affairs of Indonesia Sugiono (not seen) in London, United Kingdom on November 21, 2024. President of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto makes an official visits to the United Kingdom to meet with Prime Minister Keir Starmer and King Charles III. (Photo by Wiktor Szymanowicz/Anadolu via Getty Images)]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/SEI_230427065-2386.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
