04 Feb 2025
With the ‘new’ US President’s – no doubt orange – feet under the desk of the Oval Office, opinions are flying fast over here in the UK and we wanted to capture the views of what some of the movers and shakers in St Albans were making of the changes Stateside.
Whilst we should have had time to get used to the idea of Donald Trump becoming the 47th President of the USA, it seems few have.
Like a tornado, he has come in throwing things around and making changes at speed.
Donald Trump pardoned around 1,600 people from their January 6 protest crimes and announced huge immigration changes as soon as he took up office.
He said he planned to declare a national emergency on the southern border and ended the use of an app that allowed migrants to inform US Customs and Border Protection that they planned to enter the United States which they also used to make an appointment in advance to claim asylum.
He announced his wish to redefine birthright citizenship which, as it currently stands, means that anybody born in America is automatically given American citizenship.
He banned diversity, equality and inclusion programmes in federal agencies deeming them an immense public waste and shameful discrimination.
Additionally he withdrew from the Paris Climate Agreement – a pledge of almost 200 nations to keep global warming below two degrees Celsius – and pulled the US out of the World Health Organisation.
So if he doesn’t like the environment, any kind of diversity, people fleeing war-torn countries or wokery it would appear that his ethics are misaligned with most of ours here.
It is possibly no coincidence that the very day after Trump took up his position, Keir Starmer stood outside No 10 with two great big Union Jacks either side of him and announced that Prevent failure around the Stockport teenage dance-school murderer would be thoroughly investigated. If that wasn’t a nod to the ‘leadership style’ of the patriotic oligarch then…
Former St Albans Conservative leader Mary Maynard had expected a Trump renaissance: “It was no surprise that Trump became President again. It was clear from the polls that he had a very good chance and after the assassination attempt and his very brave response his popularity soared.
“If a picture is worth a thousand words, that picture of him surrounded by the Secret Service told a compelling story.”
Mary defined Trump as “a charismatic leader with a very clear agenda” with a personality and politics which resonate with the majority of the American people.
She said his ‘Make America Great Again’ soundbite together with his small amount of clear objectives are popular which is why he won the vote: “He promises always to put America and Americans first. He is optimistic, forward looking and aggressive.
“It is no surprise that he started by sacking large numbers of people he knew would not support his mission. I suspect he learned the hard way the last time he was President. Whether he succeeds or not is moot – political tenures are often swamped by events and who knows what will happen in the next four years. He is not our President and America is not our country. They have the right to choose the leader they think will work best for them.
“Will it work for Britain? It is highly unlikely given the cast of characters we have running the country now. Starmer is a dry, autocratic, bureaucratic lawyer who wouldn’t understand a mission if it bit him and could teach Eeyore the donkey a thing or two about pessimism.
“Lamy is inconsequential and is likely to be considered a joke by Trump’s team. They won’t fall for the virtue signalling or him donning the mantle of victimhood – they’ve had quite enough of that in the US.
“However, the UK has three major advantages. Firstly, Trump is half-Scottish and loves Scotland and Britain. Secondly, he likes it so much, he made major investments here and plans more.
“Finally, Trump is a royalist and likes our Royal Family. Politicians come and go, but the Royal Family are ‘eternal’. Let’s hope their soft power works for Britain in the new Trump Order.”
Photographer Monir Ali said he feels nervous about Trump’s tenure and that it will be a nerve-racking four years: “I am hoping that his bark is worse than his bite, but nevertheless his policies will impact hard. Additionally, the inner circle – his chosen team – is a big red flag.
“Economically it will have a huge impact on us here as our trade deals are not the best, and the potential incoming tariffs will have a heavy impact on day-to-day living. The impact will not just be here in the UK but worldwide. It is going to be a mess, and as one LBC radio presenter said ‘Captain Chaos is on the loose’.”
St Albans MP and deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats Daisy Cooper has a sense of realism about the future : “There’s no doubt that the UK has to work with President Trump, the real question is ‘how?’”
She said her party believes Britain needs to negotiate with the Trump administration from a position of strength, protecting our economy from the threat of trade wars and tariffs, the impact of which will only drive up the cost of living for families in St Albans and beyond.
“We cannot go cap-in-hand for a trade deal like the Conservatives seem to want to do – especially if the deal he wants could undermine our NHS and our high food and welfare standards.
“That’s why we are calling on the Government to urgently negotiate a new trade deal with the EU this year, which should include a goal of agreeing a bespoke customs union between the UK and the EU by 2030.
“Such a customs union would enable British businesses to import and export their products with less red tape, fewer barriers and shorter delays at the border. This would generate growth for British businesses and put us in a better position to negotiate.
“It wouldn’t prevent the UK from developing a trade deal with the US, which would likely focus on services not goods, but it would give us the extra economic boost that we so desperately need in our economy and make it clear that we’re not reliant on the US for options.”
She said Britain also needs to strengthen our national security in the face of risks posed by the Trump administration.
“Trump is famously unpredictable but he has expressed a worrying lack of support for Ukraine and NATO. And on global health security, one of the first executive orders he signed pulled the USA out of the World Health Organisation – a move which will be devastating for the health of vulnerable populations around the world and which will make it so much harder to respond to future global pandemics.
“However, whilst we need to be aware of these threats, this isn’t a reason to lose hope. We need to face up to the fact that this is the new context in which we must rebuild Britain and kickstart our economy.
“Trump is a transactional politician, so that’s how we, the UK, should deal with him. As our party leader Ed Davey has said, the UK should give Trump a state visit, with all the pomp and ceremony he craves, but only on the condition that he first participates in a UK-hosted summit to agree the use of frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine, so they can defeat Putin and win the war.
“This is the way to protect Britain’s interests, protect our communities against a worsening cost-of-living crisis, and defend our national security.”
JoJo Godfrey, Liberal Democrat candidate for the St Albans Central division in the forthcoming county council elections said: “In an era dominated by vast economic inequalities and increasing political polarisation, the influence of those wielding immense wealth and power cannot be overstated.
“Donald Trump and Elon Musk exemplify this phenomenon, leveraging their wealth and platforms to shape discourse, push controversial agendas, and potentially destabilize political landscapes far beyond their own borders.
“Their far-right ideologies and ambitions are not just an American problem; they carry significant implications for the UK and global politics. Both Trump and Musk have demonstrated a willingness to engage with and promote far-right ideologies, which is dangerous and very concerning for me as a Liberal.
“As ordinary people we must stand against Trump’s rhetoric. It isn’t just about opposing him directly but promoting values of inclusivity, truth, and mutual respect.”
Leader of SADC’s Green and Independent group Cllr Simon Grover said: “Donald Trump’s return to the White House represents a serious threat to Britain’s interests and our shared global future.
“His ‘America First’ agenda and proposed trade tariffs directly threaten British exports, risking billions in economic losses at a time when many are already struggling with the cost of living.
“His demand for NATO members to spend five per cent of GDP on defence would place an enormous strain on our national budget, potentially forcing cuts to essential public services.
“But it’s Trump’s stance on climate change that poses the gravest threat. His withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and promises to ‘roll back’ environmental protections send exactly the wrong message at a crucial moment for climate action. His pledge to ‘drill baby drill’ and end restrictions on fossil fuel exports threatens to accelerate climate breakdown, undermining the UK’s efforts to lead on environmental protection.
“This backwards step on climate action comes just as we need stronger international cooperation, not isolation.
“The impacts of climate change – from floods to wildfires – are already being felt, and Trump’s denial of this reality puts us all at risk.
“His energy policies threaten to undo the incremental progress made under Biden and embolden climate skeptics here in Britain.
“We must respond to this challenge with unity and determination. Britain needs to double down on climate action, rebuild closer ties with the EU, and stand firm in support of those most vulnerable to Trump’s policies. Only by working together can we hope to counter the damaging effects of his presidency and build the fairer, greener future we desperately need.”
And hope is also important to others.
Former European Commission spokesman on relations with the US during the Clinton administration, and Conservative Party candidate for Harpenden and Berkhamsted in last year’s General Election Nigel Gardner said: “Politics for me is about creating hope not fear. Donald Trump’s re-election is clearly creating new hope for millions of Americans – like the car workers who now see a future for their industry.
“But he is also creating fear amongst some of the weakest people in America – like the children of illegal immigrants who may lose their right to American citizenship. So whilst I welcome Trump’s harsher approach to China, and his push for more efficiency in international organisations – both of which I believe will have positive spillover over effects here in Hertfordshire – I do worry that his second presidency will see a growing lack of respect and tolerance and indeed support for the weakest in society.”
Finally, church pastor Henry Cross, who grew up in St Albans and now leads a church in Dunstable, added: “I feel hopeful that we may see a redress of the, in my opinion, overly deferential treatment to what is commonly referred to as ‘wokism’, and at the same time I am deeply concerned about a potential swing away from compassion and empathy towards the most vulnerable in society. I am alarmed at things I am hearing and reading from Christians that are in support of Trump, and yet seemingly at odds with the teaching of Jesus – for example love for enemies and treatment of the oppressed.”
