Trump’s triumph: a dark day for the free world

This is one of the darkest days in American history. Donald Trump’s victory will have incalculable consequences for the United States, but also for the world. It looks as though Trump has won decisively, with a majority of the popular vote as well as the electoral college. He has already won the Senate, meaning that Republicans will control both houses of Congress. We must now reckon with an isolationist presidency for the foreseeable future.

President-elect Trump, as we must now get used to calling him, is unlikely to be magnanimous in victory. His talk of “healing” in his triumphant acceptance speech is deceptive. What he called the “golden age of America” is likely to be an iron age for everyone else. JD Vance spoke of the “greatest economic comeback in history”, but if he and Trump do indeed impose punitive tariffs and deport tens of millions of people, the US economy will crater. If Elon Musk is allowed to dismantle the social security system, many millions of Americans will rue the day they voted for Trump.

In his victory speech, Trump never mentioned abroad. Yet this result is as momentous for the rest of the world as it is for the United States. Not only has Trump got away with doubling down on his admiration for authoritarians and dictators, but they will be gratified beyond measure by the prospect of Trump in the White House. His transactional approach to Putin and Xi Jinping spells disaster for Ukraine and Taiwan. There are no “grown-ups” in the room. This morning he claimed he would “stop wars”, but his declared policies will make them more likely.

This, then, is the time for European leaders to take responsibility for their own defence. Sir Keir Starmer should waste no time in announcing a major increase in defence spending. Last week’s Budget is already out of date. The idea that Britain’s armed forces should be further reduced is for the birds. At the very least, the Prime Minister should announce that the UK will immediately move to 2.5 per cent of GDP — a figure for which Rachel Reeves gave no firm timetable. Right now, Poland (a poorer country) is spending twice as much on defence as the Starmer government has even talked about. The Poles have the example of Winston Churchill to heart, while British politicians sound more like Neville Chamberlain.

Sir Keir must move fast not only to reassure our Nato allies that Britain is standing firm, but that Ukraine too can count on increased military support. It is vital at this critical moment to send a clear signal to Moscow that the West is not falling apart. On the contrary, demonstrating our solidarity with the Ukrainians is more important than ever before. Their fight is our fight.

As for Kemi Badenoch: she should support the Prime Minister if he does the right thing. Trump’s brand of politics has nothing in common with her kind of conservatism. Any impression that the new Leader of the Opposition is tempted to imitate Trumpism would be political suicide for her.

But if Sir Keir fails to rise to the challenge, Mrs Badenoch should not hesitate to explain to the country the task ahead. A more muscular British foreign policy is urgently needed. The Conservative Party must tell the truth about the threat to global security. Trump told us that he would keep his promises. If he is as good as his word, it means that both America and the free world should beware.

A Message from TheArticle

We are the only publication that’s committed to covering every angle. We have an important contribution to make, one that’s needed now more than ever, and we need your help to continue publishing throughout these hard economic times. So please, make a donation.