Trump isn’t done hurting Britain. And his successor will rub salt in the wound

Résumé détaillé

If the United States had a parliamentary system, Trump of course would be gone. But it doesn’t. Trump is still president for another two years, and he is asserting his continued…

The sweeping results of the US midterm elections had corks popping in Britain last week. Could it be, many wondered, that the curtain has closed on the dread era of Donald J. Trump? Is it no longer necessary to placate his impulses or pretend to respect him? Has Trumpism proved to be a malignant blip on history’s radar screen? Might the transatlantic “rupture” be mended?

As an American who feels attached to Europe (culturally, politically and genealogically), I hope so. And it’s a good bet that the new Democratic Congress will rectify some of Trump’s more egregious stances and policies. But I’m here mainly to crash the party with a warning.

If the United States had a parliamentary system, Trump of course would be gone. But it doesn’t. Trump is still president for another two years, and he is asserting his continued presence with unusual imperiousness.

This is a concerning sign for allies across the pond, since presidents enjoy much latitude in foreign affairs (which is why lame-duck presidents whose parties do poorly in midterms tend to turn in that direction).

What’s more, American politics have pivoted to something new during the Trump era in several dimensions, domestic and foreign. Even if a Democrat succeeds him in 2028, there’s little chance of reverting to the pre-2016 world. If Europeans (or certain allies in Asia) think they can go back to spending paltry sums for defence while basking under Washington’s security umbrella, they should think again.

While Democratic legislators – and theoretically, a future Democratic president – will be friendlier to allied leaders and more alert to their security needs, this attitude will only go so far. The midterm’s winning Democratic candidates displayed the vast breadth of the party, ranging from socialists in blue states to centrist religious figures in traditionally red states, but one issue they all embraced was “affordability”.

This means the new Congress will focus, above all, on restoring many of Trump’s ravaging cuts…

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