Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding is being billed as the big national celebration of 2018. But Theresa May’s desperation for a post-Brexit trade deal with the US could see Donald Trump become an unwanted guest.
Michael Wolff, author of the explosive new book on Trump’s White House, told the Mail on Sunday that the president “doesn’t like being snubbed” and failure to invite him to the royal nuptials could damage May’s dreams of a free-trade deal.
That would leave the prime minister in a bind. She could persuade the happy couple to invite Trump, but neither of them is thought to like him much. Markle is a Hillary Clinton supporter, while her fiance gets on well with Barack Obama.
May promised Britons “renewed confidence and pride” in her New Year’s message. But how would that tally with forcing this poster-couple for modern Britishness to invite to their wedding a president known for his sexism and racism? This would be a display of weakness no patriotic Brit could be proud of.
Alternatively, Trump doesn’t get his invite and May probably doesn’t get her trade deal. As Wolff explains: “Trump’s foreign policy doctrine is simple: you Brits suck up to him and enlist in whatever geopolitical fantasy he has going, he’ll give you what you want – though only if it doesn’t hurt him.”
That last line – “only if it doesn’t hurt him” – should help May make her decision. A deal with Trump’s America was always going to be on Trump’s terms, which would be at the expense of British consumers and the UK’s future relationship with our EU neighbours. Chlorinated chicken, anyone? However, if May accepts that a good deal with the US is unobtainable, one of the big reasons for having Brexit in the first place would go out the window.
The prime minister opened a Pandora’s box by cosying up to Trump after his election, and pinning so many post-Brexit hopes on a deal with America. After the royal wedding, there’s still the lingering promise of a State Visit. Wolff claims that the president wants to “Trumpalise” the Queen like a contestant on a reality show. Now that really would be a national embarrassment.
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Edited by Hugo Dixon
Luke, there are very few weddings where the happy couple can invite only people they like!
🙂
If Trump’s a guest the wedding is certain to be accompanied by massive anti-Trump, and potentially anti-Royal, demonstrations. Can’t see the Palace risking that, however much pressure feeble Mrs May tries to exert.
It is time that May realised that whatever she does to curry Trump’s favour the likelihood of a favourable trade deal with the USA is more than remote. Despite Trump’s tweets to the contrary, the USA drives very hard bargains in its negotiations and I am not aware of any trade deal that doesn’t favour the USA more than its counterpart(s). In any event, Trump doesn’t do the deal – it is done by the highly skilled American negotiators, who have the reputation of never giving an inch of ground. So it’s time she and her cronies stopped trying to fool the UK into believing otherwise.
This is nonsense, Harry ‘s too far down the line of succession to warrant heads of state to his wedding and is why he can use the relatively low-key St George’s Chapel. That only applied to William as future king.
Also Trump would hate a mixed race marriage. The only reason the question of ‘snub’ arises if Obama came along as is his right as a private citizen. Sadly I think that can be ruled out, which is the extent to which Trump casts his shadow.
And finally there’s the minor point of civil insurrection were Trump to be found anywhere near the wedding. If anyone attempted to force the issue I can see the bridal couple fleeing the country and going for a quickie in Vegas .
Mind you, I wouldn’t put it past May to be stupid enough to try – though it’s also an open question whether Trump will still be a free man by May 😅😅
May is a delusional fool, who should know better, although people might want to respect and support the royal couples wedding, if Trump turns up he will face massive demonstrations against him, his racism, misogyny, big headed crap attitude and ruining the affordable care act have seen to that.
We live in a global bubble, he cannot escape a lot of criticism.
On the other hand, the Obamas will be very welcome, as personal friends of the couple.