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Lord Cameron’s words may have haunted him on toe-curling Trump visit
How much will Donald Trump have enjoyed it?
A British Foreign Secretary – the same one who had described him, variously, as “stupid,” “wrong” and “misogynistic” – knocking on his door to ask a favour.
Toe-curling stuff, but a necessity nonetheless.
Lord Cameron‘s US detour to Mar-a-Lago acknowledges where power lies in the political arm wrestle over Ukraine aid. Trump is against the $60bn package, as it stands, and his influence shapes opposition on the Republican right.
Donald Trump giving a statement on abortion policy on Monday. Pic: Reuters
Lord Cameron told Donald Trump that Ukraine’s war was America’s war, too, and backing Ukraine and NATO is the right thing to do.
He stressed the amount that Britain and other allies have committed to defence spending – an issue for Trump, who does not think NATO members stump up enough.
It was a case put to a man who has heard it before, and yet it had to be put again.
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Lord Cameron and Antony Blinken give a press briefing in Washington today
Lord Cameron, and allies awaiting a debrief, will hope his involvement elevated the argument above the attrition of US politics and offered clarity on a crisis.
The pair also talked Middle East and that will be on the agenda at meetings with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and members of Congress.
A notable absentee from the list is Mike Johnson, the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
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From January: Trump says ‘I’ll solve Ukraine and Israel situation’
We’re told by the British side that he could not find time in his diary.
A US House Speaker who cannot spare a few minutes for a British Foreign Secretary? It sounds far short of the “special relationship”.
You have to wonder if Lord Cameron’s words have come back to bite him.
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Remember he likened US opponents of Ukraine aid to appeasers of Hitler?
At the time, it did not impress Republican House representative and Trump ally, Marjorie Taylor Greene, who told Sky News that Lord Cameron could “kiss my ass”.
It happens that Greene and Speaker Johnson are two central characters in the political machinations around Ukraine aid.
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As Speaker, he has the potential to be a Mr Fixit and bring legislation to the House floor with a view to pushing it through.
She has threatened to force a vote for his dismissal if he does so.
It’s complicated and, right now, Lord Cameron might not be the company he wants to keep.