As fears over UK-US relations grow, David Lammy commits to working with Trump’s controversial running mate. Here’s the full story.
Common Ground With Vance
David Lammy, the UK’s foreign secretary, recently affirmed his belief that, despite the pair’s profound political differences, he could find “common ground” with Trump’s controversial Vice Presidential pick, JD Vance.
Lammy’s Optimism Amid Worries
Lammy’s confidence in their ability to connect, despite contentious statements made by both sides in the past, has come at a time of increased worries over the future of the UK-US relationship as the looming threat of a second term for former President and convicted criminal Trump appears ever more likely.
Similar Histories Unite
Despite the future of the trans-Atlantic alliance appearing ever more fragile, Lammy has emphasised that he and Vance share similar personal histories which have shaped their political careers and that these similarities would allow the pair to work well together to face future problems.
Shared Backgrounds and Beliefs
Speaking to BBC’s Breakfast programme, Lammy stated, “Let me just say on JD Vance that I’ve met him now on several occasions, we share a similar working class background with addiction issues in our family. We’ve written books on that. We’ve talked about that. And we’re both Christians so I think I can find common ground with JD Vance.”
Rocky Start With Vance
However, despite Lammy’s rose-tinted view of the future of relations between the two countries should Trump be reelected, the relationship has gotten off to a rocky start. Vance, speaking at the recent Republican National Convention (RNC), signalled a significant shift in US defence policy should Trump be elected again in November.
Vance’s Isolationist Stance
A proud isolationist, Vance, who had previously been a vocal critic of Trump, has recently kissed the ring and fallen in line behind Trump, aligning himself with the former President’s “America First” approach. Vance told an audience at the RNC, “We will send our kids to war only if we must.”
Controversial UK Comments
Vance also ruffled feathers with his recent comments, made at the National Conservatism conference, in which he suggested that, following Labour’s landslide victory, the UK was now the “first truly Islamist country” with a nuclear weapon.
Upcoming EPC Summit
Lammy’s comments came ahead of the fourth European Political Community (EPC) meeting at Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire. The summit, attended by 44 EU and non-EU leaders, represents the largest gathering of European leaders in the UK in a generation.
Concerns Over Ukraine
Trump’s choice of Vance as his running mate has raised concerns among British and European officials about continued US support for Ukraine, with Trump infamously being an admirer of Putin, who has previously promised that he could end the war in Ukraine on day one.
Vance’s NATO Criticism
Playing expertly the role of Trump’s ever-obedient lapdog, Vance toed the line at the RNC, stating, “Together we will make sure our allies share in the burden of securing world peace – no more free rides.”
Financial Contributions Debate
This idea, common amongst American Republicans, that NATO allies are not contributing enough financially to the alliance, coupled with Trump and Vance’s seeming disdain for Ukraine’s ongoing fight to be an independent nation, has only further increased worries that should Trump win reelection, US support for the beleaguered country, along with America’s support of NATO might dry up rapidly.
Building GOP Relationships
To counter these concerns, Lammy has been actively seeking to build relationships with senior Republicans recently, a task complicated by his past critical remarks about Donald Trump. Lammy once labelled Trump a “neo-Nazi sociopath” and a “tyrant in a toupee” but has since distanced himself from these comments as the US presidential election approaches.
Calls for Lammy’s Sacking
Similarly, both American and British right-wing newspapers and organisations have attempted to drum up calls for Lammy’s sacking following a resurfaced tweet from 2019 in which he mocked Trump as a “snowflake” for claiming that he had been the most unfairly treated US President in the country’s history.
Controversial “Snowflake” Tweet
In response, Lammy tweeted, “4 US Presidents have been assassinated snowflake.”
Backlash From Right-Wing Groups
Though Lammy’s tweet was undeniably funny, the recent failed attempt on Trump’s life has made this six-year-old tweet suddenly profoundly controversial to some on the right of US and UK politics.
Turning Point UK’s Reaction
Responding to Lammy’s six-year-old tweet, Turning Point UK, a far-right pressure group linked to the similarly far-right Turning Point USA, told the Express, “Lammy is an international disgrace, he should resign. Not only is he beyond thick, he is also a national embarrassment. Starmer needs to sack him.”
Reaching Across the Aisle
Despite this, Lammy has continued to attempt to reach out to both Democrats and Republicans in the US, ensuring that whoever wins, the UK will have a seat at the table for any future American decisions.
Bridging Political Ideologies
David Lammy’s engagement with JD Vance is an attempt to find a commonality between two political ideologies with profoundly different worldviews. However, with statements both old and new throwing a spanner in the works, it remains to be seen if Lammy’s endeavours will lead to a better relationship between an increasingly erratic America and its British and European allies.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Dominic Dudley.