A Whitehall source tells me the mood in the Foreign Office is grim. Joe Biden’s blistering attack on Donald Trump this morning, branding his predecessor’s border wall and trade wars mere “vanity projects,” has landed like a thunderclap. But here in London, the reaction is less about the policy and more about the play.
Biden, standing at a podium in the White House Rose Garden, didn’t mince words. “The last guy built a wall that wasn’t needed and started a trade war that hurt American farmers,” he said, sweat glistening on his brow. “I’m here to fix things, not to feed egos.” The speech was vintage Biden: blunt, folksy, and aimed squarely at the working-class voters who drifted to Trump in 2016. But the subtext was clear: this is a president fighting for his political life.
In the Lobby, the buzz is about the ripple effects. British diplomats are scrambling to read the tea leaves. The US is Britain’s most important ally, but a deeply polarised America is a headache. One senior diplomat put it to me bluntly: “We need a stable partner, not a soap opera.” The fear is that Biden’s attack will inflame the GOP base, hardening opposition to any cooperation on trade or security. The PM’s team is said to be “very concerned” about the impact on the upcoming trade talks.
Meanwhile, British voters are watching with a mix of fascination and dread. Polling data from YouGov suggests that a majority of Britons view US politics as “toxic” and “unstable.” The irony is not lost: after years of Brexit chaos, the UK is now a relative haven of political stability. But that could change if the US contagion spreads. “It’s like watching a slow-motion car crash,” a Labour backbencher told me over a pint. “The problem is, we’re in the passenger seat.”
The game is vicious. Biden is trying to frame Trump as a symbol of division and failure, hoping to rally Democrats and centrists. Trump, predictably, fired back on Truth Social, calling Biden “Sleepy Joe” and accusing him of destroying the economy. The exchange is part of a broader strategy: each man is trying to define the other before the 2024 campaign fully ignites.
But here’s the rub for British interests. The US political system is now so polarised that even talking to the other side is seen as betrayal. British ambassadors used to schmooze both parties. Now they have to pick sides. The result is a diplomatic minefield. One Whitehall insider described the situation as “a nightmare. We have to maintain relationships with both camps, but every move is scrutinised.”
The PM’s team is reportedly considering a low-key approach: stay out of the fray and focus on bilateral issues like climate change and tech regulation. But that’s easier said than done. When the US president calls his predecessor a “vanity project,” the tremors are felt in every capital, especially London.
I’ll be watching the fallout closely. The real story isn’t the rhetoric, it’s how the British establishment navigates this increasingly hostile terrain. The game is afoot, and the stakes are higher than ever.
