We all know Blair’s starting assumption when it comes to the
transatlantic relationship: you stay close to the Americans. You do your best to influence them where possible, but you do not allow yourself to be divided. This view – it is actually more of a faith at this point – has discoloured his assessment of the Trump administration to the point of caricature.
“This side of the water, we’re being told some home truths,” Blair argues. The Americans want us to be “bigger and better partners”, not to distance themselves from us. They are still our allies. Trump, due to his concern about Russia in the Arctic, sees the world “no differently from how Europe sees the world”.
Every part of this assessment
is wrong. Trump does not speak “home truths”. He lies. Trump does not want us strong. He wants us weak. He views the world in terms of personal fiefdoms and would prefer the UK as a minor subordinate in the American sphere of interest. Trump does not see the world as Europe does. He is an ally of Russia. He
wishes to destroy Europe.
All of this is so obvious it barely needs saying. The Trump administration openly supports European political parties trying to undermine the EU from within. It repeatedly sympathises with Russia’s war aims in Ukraine and has tried to help it secure them in peace talks. It has threatened to invade a Nato ally. The level of wilful blindness you need to believe otherwise is astonishing.