Trump’s presidency places ‘particular relationship’ beneath menace as UK loses ‘energy and affect’

EXCLUSIVE: Donald Trump ally Elon Musk has clashed with Prime Minister Keir Starmer – who according to Foreign Secretary David Lammy is to meet with the new president in coming weeks

Donald Trump’s return to the White House will have consequences for the rest of the world – including the UK. For security expert Matthew Powell, of the University of Portsmouth, there are a variety of concerns surrounding global security and trade that may see the UK need to build bridges elsewhere, telling the Daily Star Trump’s second term marks a “change in the special relationship”.

Matthew didn’t see the UK and Prime Minister Keir Starmer as being “as important to a Trump White House.” He also noted how it would force the UK to look more to Europe for its close relationships, noting “we will need stronger ties with Europe and the EU to try and offset what is happening in terms of degredation of relations with the US.”

He continued: “The EU knows from a sheer numbers game that it holds the power and the influence in those relatrionships.”

He did however note that “from a strategic point of view I’m not sure much will change.” Instead he felt more if it will come down to how the country moves through the tumolt a Trump term will generate in the international political system. “It will be how the UK navigates this change and fluctuation in the international system,” he said. “It hasn’t got the power and influence that it had”.

There is also some bad blood. Donald Trump’s new administration features on its roster key figures who have in the past been critical of the British government, chief among them the world’s richest man: Elon Musk.

The multi-billionaire has clashed with Starmer, who is expected to meet with the new president in coming weeks according to Foreign Secretary David Lammy.

Musk, who has also cast aside Reform leader Nigel Farage, has been attacking Starmer over the grooming scandal, accusing him and other politicians of covering it up. The now senior member of the Trump cabinet said Starmer is “complicit” and should go to prison in an unsubstantiated claim.

Despite there being no evidence that Starmer was aware of the details of the case, Musk said: “Starmer must go and he must face charges for his complicity in the worst mass crime in the history of Britain”.

Elsewhere, there are concerns that Trump may be planning to reject Starmer’s pick for UK ambassador to the US, Lord Peter Mandelson, which would be a regarded as a significant insult. The Mail on Sunday has claimed that Sir Keir is “back of the queue” for a visit and “he will have to eat humble pie” to get one.

However, speaking to reporters, Mr Lammy has said: “I think that when you look at past Prime Ministers, it’s taken between a week or up to a month to come to Washington. The importance is the strength of the relationship and the serious discussions that we have.”

Tensions then are already far from ideal, but what key changes might play out in this frosty atmosphere?

According to the Institute for Government , there are key areas which may be influenced by the arrival of Trump in the Oval Office.

• Spending priorities for the European allies of the US, as far as the US is concerned, are secondary to spending on defence. Trump has little concern about the NHS or overfilled prisons in the UK, but will want to see plenty of money being spent on military build up. He has asked NATO members to up their spending on defence to 5%.
• Trade is likely to come to the fore as Trump wants strong tariffs for goods moving into the US.
• EU relations may become harder to navigate as the US seeks to influence the direction the UK’s trade priorities point.
• Regulation resistance in the US across a variety of areas including on digital platforms, agricultural exports and the carbon border adjustment mechanism could see the UK take the heat as it has a lot of inherited EU legislation but does not have the power to fight against US efforts to force it to adopt the same policies.
• Immigration is a major topic in both countries and Trump has a strong position on movement over the US’s southern border – including the removal of birthright citizenship and declaring immigration there a national emergency. The strong stance could well lead to anti-immigration sentiment to be emboldened over here as they watch it play out across the pond
• Net Zero is a target that undeniably affects the whole world, and the decision to pull the US back from climate goals will impact more than the just the borders of the US. On top of the direct planetary issues, it may make net-zero critics in the UK louder voices in the room, stagnating environmental progress.
• Government efficiency and politicised public service in the US could lead to more outspoken frustrations from the right wing to tackle the ‘deep state’.

There have been fears that Trump could incite a trade war, which has led Chancellor Rachel Reeves to say she will be making “strong representations” in a bit to talk his team out of the possible move. However, demands for more defence spending may undermine her plans and make pledges about tax hikes hard to stick to.