Newsgens: During Donald Trump’s first term, governments worldwide braced themselves for his morning social media posts. Would he reverse a major policy? What new insult would he throw? Fast forward four years, and diplomats are once again uneasy every time the sun rises on America’s east coast.
Learning from Trump’s First Term
Throughout his presidency, diplomats learned to take Trump “seriously but not literally.” Despite bold campaign promises, such as withdrawing the U.S. from NATO or locking up Hillary Clinton, Trump didn’t follow through on many of his more extreme assertions. But with a second term looming, can British ministers remain so calm in the face of his outbursts?
Trump’s Latest Criticism of the UK
Trump’s latest social media salvo targeted the UK government’s decision to raise taxes on oil and gas firms operating in the North Sea. The tax hike aims to fund renewable energy initiatives, but Trump, on his Truth Social platform, criticized the move. He wrote, “The U.K. is making a very big mistake. Open up the North Sea. Get rid of Windmills!”
Is this just another instance of Trump defending U.S. businesses and his pro-fossil fuel stance, or does it signal a deeper inclination to intervene in the domestic policies of allied nations?
Musk’s Role in the Diplomatic Drama
The key difference this time is that Trump is no longer alone. Elon Musk, an increasingly influential figure, has also used his platform, X (formerly Twitter), to criticize the UK government. Musk has taken aim at various aspects of British policy, including the government’s handling of last summer’s riots, its economic management, and, more recently, its response to child abuse scandals.
Musk’s attacks on British politicians, particularly Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, have been relentless. He accused Starmer of not doing enough to prosecute child grooming gangs during his time as Director of Public Prosecutions. British politicians now face a delicate balancing act in responding to these provocative comments.
The Conservative Party’s Response
So far, the Conservative Party has engaged with Musk’s agenda, particularly regarding child grooming gangs. Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, stated that a national inquiry into organized grooming gangs is “long overdue.” However, the party has distanced itself from Musk’s controversial support for far-right activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson, who was jailed in October for contempt of court.
Alicia Kearns, the Conservative shadow safeguarding minister, criticized Musk for “lionizing” Robinson, calling it “frankly dangerous.”
Labour’s Cautious Approach
Labour, on the other hand, seems hesitant to confront Musk, likely due to his immense wealth and potential future influence on British politics. The Reform Party, led by Nigel Farage, has even suggested that Musk may donate to their cause. Health Secretary Wes Streeting called Musk’s comments on child grooming “misjudged and misinformed,” but urged the billionaire to collaborate with the UK government to tackle online child abuse.
Musk’s Eccentric Global Diplomacy
Musk’s interventions are not limited to the UK. He has also criticized global leaders, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, calling him a “fool,” and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whom he labeled an “insufferable tool.” Musk’s increasingly eccentric comments have left governments around the world grappling with how to respond.
The Diplomatic Challenge Ahead
As global leaders continue to monitor Musk and Trump’s social media activity, the challenge remains: Which, if any, of these online interventions warrant a response?
Some in the UK government hope that the appointment of Lord Mandelson as the new British ambassador could help manage the flow of personal attacks across the Atlantic. Additionally, there’s hope that Trump’s admiration for the UK and the Royal Family might help maintain diplomatic relations, following a successful meeting with the Prince of Wales in Paris in December.
For now, officials are keeping a close eye on their timelines, knowing that social media diplomacy from the U.S. is back—and some of it is aimed squarely at the UK.
