Donald Trump will become US President for the second time next week (Image: Getty)
The chickens are coming home to roost.
Incoming US President has snubbed UK Prime Minister Sir by failing to invite the PM to his glitzy inauguration on January 20 – despite extending invitations to other world leaders.
And we know that Mr Trump despises Sir Keir and the Labour Party because his close ally, , has repeatedly made it clear.
It’s a problem for the UK, which is desperate for good relations with the US and the Trump administration.
But the truth is that Mr Trump’s attitude is understandable. Because British Labour politicians have repeatedly attacked and insulted him – without thinking about the consequences.
Is it any wonder that the incoming US President is upset?
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For example, Sir Keir hit out in 2018, saying: “Humanity and dignity. Two words not understood by President Trump”.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said in 2017: “He is a racist KKK and Nazi sympathiser” – Foreign Secretary David Lammy in 2017
Health Secretary Wes Streeting, also in 2017, said: “Trump is such an odious, sad, little man”.
Environment Secretary Ed Miliband, following Trump’s 2016 victory, said: “Racist, misogynistic, self-confessed groper just won Presidency”.
And Home Secretary Yvette Cooper in 2020 said: “Watching Trump in recent days has been truly, truly chilling”.
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The Labour Party also sent volunteers to the US to campaign for Mr Trump’s opponent, , in last year’s Presidential elections.
Downing Street argues this is a party matter and nothing to do with the Government, but it’s unlikely that the Americans understand the difference. After all, is both head of the Government, as Prime Minister, and Labour leader.
We don’t like it when US politicians attempt to interfere in our politics, and rightly so. But British politicians seem to think they have every right to get involved in the US.
In response, Mr Trump has invited foreign leaders such as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to his Washington inauguration, but not Sir Keir.
And his ally has launched an online war against Sir . This week Mr Musk complained: “He sent operatives to America to undermine the !”.
The tech billionaire is a close ally of the incoming US President. He’s appeared alongside Mr Trump at rallies, and will play a role in the new US government as joint head of a new “department of government efficiency”.
Some people might think the UK should not be scared of upsetting Mr Trump. After all, there are people in this country who would agree with the criticisms levelled by Labour Labour politicians.
But the fact is that the UK needs good relations with Mr Trump.
We want to convince Mr Trump not to impose tariffs on UK goods, after he threatened tariffs on all imports into the US. We also want to influence his approach to , amid fears that Mr Trump is more sympathetic to than his predecessors in the White House, and ensure the US remains committed to the NATO defence alliance.
And that’s the Government’s view too. Sir Keir is keen to hold substantial talks with the new President as soon as possible.
But Labour’s childish insults against the new President have made that harder to achieve and lowered the UK’s influence in the world.