What a Trump win means for the UK as 'Donald movement' takes hold of America

Mr Trump is also on course to win the popular vote.

Minutes ago, Trump took to the stage at his election HQ in Florida and said: “This was I believe the greatest political movement of all time.

“And now it’s going to reach a new level of importance because we’re going to help our country heal... we made history for a reason tonight and that reason is going to be just night.”

“It it’s now clear that we’ve achieved the most incredible political thing - look what happened, isn’t this crazy?

“Every single day I will be fighting for you... this is a magnificent victory for the American people that will allow us to make America great again.”

Here’s what his presidency could mean for Britain.

Trade

A genuine free trade deal with the US could now be made easier as Trump is more open to a potential trade deal with the UK. Christopher Hope speaking on GB News said: "We may get a more favourable look from Washington now."

Nigel Farage spoke of the opportunity for Britain, he said: "He is the most pro-British president we have had for decades. He has expressed to me over the years to do a genuine free trade deal with the UK."

However in some senior government circles there is a concern that Trump will immediately slap trade tariffs on all imports.

His promise of a blanket tariff of 10 per cent on all foreign goods could start a trade war, push up inflation and damage growth in Britain.

Trump has form on tariffs; he described the word as ‘the most beautiful word in the world’ in his first term.

Experts have warned such a move could hit the UK economy as much as Brexit.

The UK exports £59billion worth of good to the US, but that would decline under tariffs while reciprocal tariffs would push up costs of imports from America.

UK goods exports to the US would decline because prices would rise, while reciprocal tariffs would push up the cost of imports.

However Farage has reiterated that the Britain could be excluded from any tariffs if Labour uses the Trump win and potentially apologises for sending people to campaign for Kamala Harris. Farage heralded it as "an opportunity" for Britain.

The Special Relationship

Trump’s victory will present a huge diplomatic challenge to Starmer’s Labour government, particularly as many members of his cabinet have launched scathing personal attacks on Donald Trump.

David Lammy, Starmer’s Foreign Secretary, described Trump as a “neo-Nazi sympathising sociopath”, a “tyrant in a toupée” and a “dangerous clown”.

More recently, Trump hit out at Labour efforts to support Harris in the election campaign, lodging a complaint with the Federal Election Commission and even naming two of Starmer’s most senior aides.

As well as the frosty relationship between Labour and Trump, Starmer will have to face the prospect of a jubilant Nigel Farage who will undoubtedly look to capitalise on his friend’s win in America.

Farage’s Reform party are draining away support from Starmer at local elections, and present serious threat if there is a by-election in Runcorn after Labour incumbent Mike Amesbury sucker punched a constituent in a late night, booze fuelled street brawl.

NATO

Perhaps the most obvious effect of a Trump presidency would be on the UK’s commitment to NATO, or lack thereof in his opinion.

The Republican candidate has made noises for many years urging Europe to contribute more to their own defence and not rely on US dollars to protect them.

America currently makes up for two thirds of NATO spending and spends 3.4 per cent of its GDP on defence.

Trump will likely raise the GDP spending target for Britain and NATO partners to 3 per cent, meaning Starmer will have to increase the defence budget by billions or risk rocky relations with the White House.

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Ukraine

This one is closely linked to NATO and defence spending.

Trump has previously said he would scale back the US’s commitment to Ukraine, calling Zelensky ‘the greatest salesman in history’.

If the US pulled out, Britain and other European countries would have to hugely increase their support of Ukraine or be forced to cede the territory lost to Putin.

Climate

Trump has called climate change ‘the biggest scam in history’ and promised to boost production of gas and oil in America while scrapping net zero targets.

This could weaken Labour’s ambitious net zero goals in Britain as the international movement towards net zero is damaged.

It could also lower the price of gas and oil, making North Sea gas and oil production less valuable, the tax on which is highly profitable to the Treasury.