Donald Trump has injected himself into America’s 250th birthday celebrations, sparking a transatlantic row by praising the British monarchy as a ‘unifying alternative’ to the country’s political divisions. Speaking at a private dinner in Florida, the former president suggested that the United States might benefit from a ceremonial head of state, drawing immediate backlash from historians and politicians alike.
For many working-class Britons, the monarchy is a distant, expensive symbol. But Trump’s remarks tap into a deeper unease about the state of American democracy. The 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, due in 2026, was meant to be a moment of national unity. Instead, it has become another battleground in the culture wars.
‘It’s easy for a billionaire to talk about kings and queens when he doesn’t have to worry about the price of a loaf of bread,’ said Margaret Hughes, a retired factory worker from Leeds. ‘The royals don’t pay my bills. I’d rather see politicians focus on wages and jobs.’
Trump’s comments come as union membership in the UK hits record lows and regional inequality deepens. In the North, where I grew up, the idea of a unifying figure feels hollow when communities are still recovering from deindustrialisation. The monarchy’s popularity often masks the real divisions: between London and the regions, between the haves and have-nots.
Yet Trump’s supporters argue that the American presidency has become too partisan. ‘We need something above the fray,’ said a spokesperson for a pro-Trump PAC. ‘The Queen represented stability. Why can’t we have that?’ But the Queen’s image of stability was built on a foundation of imperial wealth and inherited privilege, hardly a model for a republic founded on revolution.
The British government has been careful not to wade into the controversy. Downing Street said it would not comment on ‘the internal affairs of a friendly nation’. But behind closed doors, officials are anxious. The last thing they need is a high-profile endorsement of the monarchy from a figure as divisive as Trump.
For the average worker, the debate feels distant. ‘I don’t care about the monarchy or Trump,’ said James O’Brien, a warehouse operative in Manchester. ‘I care about my rent going up and my wages staying the same. That’s the real crisis.’
As America prepares to mark its 250th birthday, the question is whether its institutions can hold. Trump’s intervention is a reminder that even the most sacred traditions can be weaponised. In the end, unity won’t come from a crown or a flag, but from policies that address the kitchen-table concerns of ordinary people.
