Trump win could mean UKs downfall
By Alfie Robinson
Donald Trump could be the next President of America. Again.
If he wins the nomination, what might that mean for the UK?
THE POLLS
Recent US election polls show Kamala Harris is still slightly ahead of Donald Trump in the polling averages at 48% to Trump’s 47%. Democrats and voters alike should be worried as this gap has been steadily tightening over the last couple of weeks, which means Trump could win this race.
A clear shift in public opinion is evident in swing states such as Pennsylvania, and if this apparent shift proves to be reality and Trump is elected, the ramifications will undoubtedly be felt in the UK within our own political climate.
By Kent Nishimura via Getty Images
COULD SECURITY BE WEAKENED?
The former President has threatened to leave NATO many times and although defence experts and individuals who worked under him claim it's unlikely he will follow through, he, at the very least, expects other members to drastically increase spending to a level most European countries simply cannot.
This causes a genuine security issue for Britain as Trump has encouraged Russia to ‘do whatever the hell they want’ to anyone who doesn't meet the new standards.
By Pool via Getty Images
TARIFFS
The most beautiful word in the dictionary according to the former president will be the main factor in our economic struggles in the event that he wins.
He has proposed a 10 or 20% tax on all imports from abroad, and this includes Britain, as America accounts for 17.7% of all our international trade. Trade relations with the US are imperative for the survival and progression of the UK.
By Kevin Dietsch via Getty Images
Outside of geopolitics and the black-and-white of this election, there is another catastrophic effect a Trump win could have globally and particularly in Britain.
A campaign run by a convicted criminal, built on lies like Haitians eating American’s pet dogs and cats or far-right tropes like immigrants poisoning the blood of the country, is one that if successful, will embolden individuals and organizations worldwide who share such views to speak without fear of persecution or blowback.
Speaking to The Scotsman, Green Party co-leader, Patrick Harvie, said, "Trump becoming President again is a profound threat at a time when we see similar far-right populist parties on the rise in Europe, and the manipulation of misinformation and the very clear direct corrupt abuse of money.”
By Alexi Rosenfeld via Getty Images
It sets a precedent that this type of rhetoric, supported with enough financial backing, can win. And if that has a place in our society, who’s to say there isn’t a place for the EDL and Tommy Robinson?
Kamala Harris is by no means a soft Liberal looking to improve international relations and end conflict, however, Donald Trump is severing longstanding and powerful relations in Europe and the UK, whilst perpetuating far-right racism eerily similar to that of 1930s Nazi Germany.