There may be a touch of polite 'passive aggression' in Britain's official gifts to Trump
After a lavish state banquet at Buckingham Palace on Monday night, President Trump met with outgoing Prime Minister Theresa May on Tuesday morning to discuss policy. At a business roundtable, Trump urged May to "stick around" to complete a bilateral U.S.-Britain trade deal, assuming Britain exits the European Union. Trump is undiplomatically pro-Brexit and supportive of May's pro-Brexit-er rivals, and May is resigning because Parliament rejected her Brexit plan multiple times. Protesters have launched the baby Trump balloon outside Parliament.
May, like Queen Elizabeth II, had a special gift for Trump. "Trump can do insults, but he could learn a thing or two from Theresa May about British passive aggression," Politico's Charlie Cooper writes. Her gift, a copy of Winston Churchill's draft of the Atlantic Charter of 1941, "is laden with symbolism — and just a little snark." The charter, negotiated with Franklin D. Roosevelt, sets out "common goals for the world, including freer trade, disarmament, and the right to self-determination of all people," The Associated Press explains. "The declaration helped lay the groundwork for the United Nations and the World Trade Organization."
"Trump has made no secret of his disdain for the U.N.," Cooper says, "and the gift will inevitably be read as a parting shot from the prime minister about the importance of multilateralism and the rules-based global order." The queen also touched on those themes in her Monday night toast to Trump, lauding the post-World War II work the U.S. and Britain did "with other allies to build an assembly of international institutions" that still work "together to safeguard a hard-won peace."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Trump will take part in ceremonies in Britain and France to commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-Day, and French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to deliver a similar pro-multilateral message. In London, May gifted first lady Melania Trump "a bespoke teapot," Britain's Metro reports. For more British passive aggression, read some reactions to that gift.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Ottawa climate talks: can global plastic problem be solved?
In the spotlight Nations aim to draft world's first treaty on plastic pollution, but resistance from oil- and gas-producing countries could limit scope
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Netherlands split on WFH for sex workers
Speed Read Councils concerned over 'nuisance' of at-home sex work, but others say changes will curb underground sex trade
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
'He adored Trump, and then rejected him'
Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
By The Week Staff Published
-
Ukraine cheers House approval of military aid
Speed Read Following a lengthy struggle, the House has approved $95 billion in aid for Ukraine and Israel
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Poland, Germany nab alleged anti-Ukraine spies
Speed Read A man was arrested over a supposed Russian plot to kill Ukrainian President Zelenskyy
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Israel hits Iran with retaliatory airstrike
Speed Read The attack comes after Iran's drone and missile barrage last weekend
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Peter Murrell: Sturgeon's husband charged over SNP 'embezzlement' claims
Speed Read SNP expresses 'shock' as former chief executive rearrested in long-running investigation into claims of mishandled campaign funds
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Mark Menzies: Tories investigate MP after 'bad people' cash claims
Speed Read Fylde MP will sit as an independent while party looks into allegations he misused campaign funds on medical expenses and blackmail pay-out
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Why Johnson won't just pass Ukraine aid
Speed Read The House Speaker could have sent $60 billion in military aid to Ukraine — but it would have split his caucus
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Sudan on brink of collapse after a year of war
Speed Read 18 million people face famine as the country continues its bloody downward spiral
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump's first criminal trial starts with jury picks
Speed Read The former president faces charges related to hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published