The United Kingdom shamelessly prostrated itself at the feet of Donald Trump on Wednesday, throwing a lavish welcoming party for his state visit to Windsor that resembled less diplomacy and more fealty.

In doing so, the U.K. has revealed something deeply unflattering about itself—in the scramble to keep America close, it will debase itself and its values completely.

It will silence dissent, empty out its traditions, and rent out its monarch like a sex worker, deployed to flatter the ego of a man who has spent much of his political life suggesting he should be treated like one, a monarch, not a sex worker, that is.

As stage props go, the monarchy is unbeatable. But if this is what the “special relationship” between the U.S and the U.K. now means, it looks to many in Britain less like a partnership and more like groveling, feudal servitude.

archive article: https://archive.is/DxOAv

  • etchinghillside@reddthat.com
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    30
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    10 hours ago

    I don’t know – is this really a “UK bending” thing?

    I think this is just how NATO officials have realized how to play the game with him – fluff up his ego a bit and then get to the business talks – you play the game of politics with the hand you’re given.

    I guess it might be the greatest public showing so far by a NATO Country(?)

    • tburkhol@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      25
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      9 hours ago

      Honestly, as acts of appeasement go, a fancy dress party seems about the least humiliating thing a country can agree to. Play king for a day, like Make-A-Wish for senile fascists. If that settles the tariff negotiations, then well done.

    • cygnus@lemmy.ca
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      13
      ·
      10 hours ago

      I guess it might be the greatest public showing so far by a NATO Country(?)

      By far, although to be fair, most of the rest of us don’t have a royal family.