With Donald Trump set to serve his second and final term as President, politicians and US citizens in London have given their reaction to his historic election victory.
The UK is home to hundreds of thousands of Americans who will have paid close attention to Donald Trump’s election victory over Kamala Harris last week.
Political figures, expats and voters in London have been vocal in the days since the election, sharing their thoughts on the President-elect.
American expat Erich McElroy is a member of Democrats Abroad UK (DAUK), an official part of the Democratic party, and a political commentator who lives in Kingston.
“It definitely has an impact on how I view the United States and the safety of my family,” said McElroy, “As an American, I’m ashamed that this is who we elected.”
“I would like to be proud to be a US citizen and having a felon as President makes it very difficult,” McElroy added. “What happens with the US economy and US politics affects the entire world.”
John Scardino, Vice Chair of DAUK, said: “Many economists have analysed Trump’s plans for tariffs on goods imported into the US and concluded that this would lead to higher prices for US consumers, a slowdown of the US economy and therefore a drag on the world economy.”
Leader of the Liberal Democrats and MP for Kingston and Surbiton, Ed Davey openly condemned Trump in a statement on X: “This is a dark, dark day for people around the globe. The world’s largest economy and most powerful military will be led by a dangerous, destructive demagogue.”
Greg Swenson, chair of Republicans Overseas UK responded to Davey’s comments. He said: “It’s just reckless to say that, even if that’s your view. As an elected official of America’s closest ally you should probably keep that in check… to call him a demagogue is dangerous.”
Swenson said that most Republicans in the UK were happy with the election result even after an initial dip in support during the Republican primaries.
“Trump is not the greatest candidate, he has never won more than 47% of the vote in his last two elections,” said Swenson, who added that a different Republican candidate may have even performed better than Trump.
Swenson said that this election was an “overwhelming rejection of progressive left policies”.
Michelangelo Infurnari, a retired American expat living in Teddington said: “I couldn’t be happier. Eight years of the left’s vendetta all destroyed, but what a mess they’ll be leaving him.”
“For Americans here it will be really refreshing to have a pro-UK President,” said Swenson.
Swenson predicted that the relationship between the UK and the US would improve as Trump takes the Presidency from Biden, he said: “I think for the most part it’s great news for the UK.”
Social Affairs
Democrat McElroy expressed concern that Project 2025, a 900-page set of conservative proposals, might be the basis for policy within the Trump Administration.
“It has a focus on rolling back women’s rights to choose, trans rights being rolled back, and domestic policy of high tariffs which is going to have an impact around the world,” added McElroy.
Trump has already vowed to undo the Biden Administration policy that offers protections for transgender students on “day one” of his Presidency.
Demonstrations
The US Embassy in London has been the target of demonstrations including a Just Stop Oil attack on the morning Trump was announced victorious, with two arrests made.
Another anti-Trump demonstration followed on the Wednesday evening led by Stand Up To Racism.
“They’re really insulting the voters, slightly over 50% of the country voted for him, you can even argue it was a landslide victory,” said Swenson on the protests, he added: “what does this signal to Americans? That you guys are idiots for voting for this guy?”
McElroy said: “It’s not an insult, I’ve got 71 million people who voted for Kamala Harris who wouldn’t mind their voices being heard,” he added: “I’m sure we would have been hearing from Trump supporters if he had lost, as we did when they stormed the United States Capitol.”
Trump will return to the White House as the 47th President of the United States in January 2025 alongside Republican majorities in both the US Senate and House of Representatives.
