Lammy seeks to repair Trump relationship after ‘Nazi’ jibe
Six years ago, David Lammy described Donald Trump as someone who dislikes women, sympathizes with neo-Nazis, and exhibits sociopathic behavior, labeling him as a significant danger to global stability.
On Wednesday, Lammy, who is now the UK Foreign Secretary, extended his “congratulations” to Trump and expressed that the British government is eager to collaborate with him.
This was the most recent move in a passionate effort to mend ties with Trump and his MAGA supporters. Lammy has traveled to the US seven times as the shadow foreign secretary and has made two trips there since the UK election in July.
Lammy's effort to win support involved discussions with vice-president-elect JD Vance, South Carolina senator and Trump supporter Lindsey Graham, former national security adviser Robert O’Brien, and several other influential Republicans.
Lammy portrays himself as a "small-c conservative" and a "good Christian boy" devoted to family principles. He aims to emphasize the shared interests he has with Trump.
The biggest breakthrough in his effort to mend relationships happened in September when he had a private and extended dinner with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and the Republican candidate at Trump Tower.
For more than two and a half hours, the three engaged in a conversation about Trump’s love for Scotland, the birthplace of his mother and the location of his golf resort. They also discussed his fascination with the British royal family, as reported by sources who were aware of the dialogue.
It's uncertain if these gestures will be sufficient to erase the memories of his harsh words.
Shortly after Lammy sent his congratulatory message, Kemi Badenoch, the newly appointed leader of the Conservatives, seized her first opportunity to confront Starmer during the prime minister's questions in the House of Commons. She inquired whether Lammy had personally apologized to Trump for his "offensive and vulgar" comments about the president-elect.
She pointed out that several ministers in the Labour cabinet have signed a petition requesting that Trump be barred from speaking to the UK parliament. She also encouraged Starmer to set aside those feelings and extend an invitation to Trump to address British lawmakers.
Starmer, who had advised his top team to “tweet responsibly” just before the election results, described the dinner with Trump as “very productive.”
When asked on Wednesday if Lammy would continue to serve as foreign secretary for the rest of this parliamentary term, Starmer's spokesperson responded, "Yes, he is the foreign secretary."
Starmer later reached out to Trump to offer his congratulations on winning the election.
According to a spokesperson from Downing Street, the two individuals talked about the robust connection between the UK and the US, covering areas such as defense, security, economic growth, and overall prosperity.
Starmer took some time to discuss the situation in the Middle East and emphasized how crucial it is for the region to remain stable. He mentioned their meeting in September, noting Trump's strong ties and rapport with the UK. He expressed enthusiasm about collaborating in the future, as stated by Number 10.
A potentially bigger obstacle to the growth of the UK's "special relationship" with the US is Trump’s recent connection with Elon Musk.
The CEO of Tesla and owner of X has mocked Starmer on the social media platform, asserting that following the summer riots, the UK is moving towards a “civil war.”
Musk, familiar with the UK and having been married to a British woman twice, criticized the country, suggesting that no one should travel there after he was not invited to Starmer’s international investment summit last month.
Currently, a strong supporter of Trump, Musk has donated over $100 million to the pro-Republican America Pac. He is expected to take charge of a new U.S. department that will focus on significantly reducing the size of government bureaucracy.
Although his participation in the new administration hasn't been verified, it could allow him to sway Trump's opinions on various matters and associates.
Trump's win also influences Starmer's decision regarding the UK ambassador to the US, increasing the chances that the current ambassador, Dame Karen Pierce, will be invited to continue in her role.
Known as the "Trump whisperer" among diplomats, she has earned recognition for her ability to forge strong connections with Republican leaders. She played a key role in organizing a meeting in April at Mar-a-Lago in Florida, where Trump met with Lord David Cameron, who was then the UK foreign secretary, to talk about the situation in Ukraine.
With her support, the UK embassy in Washington has established connections with Donald Trump Jr., the president-elect's son, as well as several other allies of Trump, as reported by UK government sources.
Starmer postponed the recruitment for a new ambassador until after the US election results were revealed, aiming to keep the possibility of extending Pierce's tenure on the table.
However, not all prominent Labour politicians have eagerly embraced Trump’s success. Sadiq Khan, the Labour mayor of London, indicated that the outcome of the US election has created feelings of unease and fear in the capital city of the UK.
London has a historic competition with New York in the financial services sector, but it is currently positioning itself as a hub for artificial intelligence, technology, and sustainable finance in Europe.
Khan aimed to take advantage of the outcome of the US election by presenting London as a city that celebrates its diversity and is dedicated to forward-thinking principles.
Khan thinks that the outcome could highlight the cultural distinctions between London and the United States, potentially making the UK capital more appealing to investors.
Khan's supporters stated that the mayor was confident that the capital's overall living conditions and consistent leadership would draw more interest from global investors.
The mayor of London, who has had disagreements with Trump before, expressed on Wednesday his awareness that "a lot of people in London will feel worried about the results of the US presidential election."
He emphasized, "London is, and will forever be, a place for everyone. We will continually support women, celebrate diversity, promote climate action, and advocate for human rights."
"London is a city that takes pride in its rich diversity, the valuable contributions from all its communities, and the strong sense of togetherness we share. These are the core values that will keep us united as residents of this great city."
