US poised for ‘Brexit-style election’ as Donald Trump told to ‘take back control’

Republican strategist Adam Goodman (left) and former President Donald Trump (right)

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Jack Walters

By Jack Walters


Published: 26/10/2023

- 20:01

Donald Trump previously compared his 2016 victory against former First Lady Hillary Clinton to the United Kingdom’s decision to vote to leave the European Union

The 2024 US Presidential Election looks set to become America’s version of Brexit as voters want to take back control of the nation’s crumbling system, a veteran Republican strategist has claimed.

Adam Goodman, who previously advised Grand Old Party bigwigs John McCain and Jeb Bush, also suggested public fury has now supplanted problems which usually garner significant political salience.


“This reminds me in its core to probably what happened with Brexit. Brexit was a reaction by the public to want to take more control of their lives. I think they felt that things were somewhat out of control.

“I think that is happening a lot in America. Crime in American cities is way up, homelessness is at epidemic levels, two million crossed the southern border in the last calendar year, 200,000 in the last month.

WATCH NOW: Adam Goodman discusses why the 2024 election could become a Brexit-style poll on the establishment


“I think people in America are looking for someone who will give them a measure of control over tomorrow, as opposed to what they’re feeling right now which is a loss of control.”

Goodman also suggested an election which becomes a referendum on the establishment would benefit the 45th President but warned it could also aide third-party candidate, including Robert F Kennedy Jr.

It is not yet known if Kennedy Jr’s involvement in the race will help or harm Trump’s chances.

A recent opinion poll suggested Biden would take a slight hit.

Redfield & Wilton Strategies gave Trump a head-to-head lead over Biden in Arizona, Florida, Georgia and North Carolina.

Boris Johnson speaking at a Vote Leave event in 2016

Boris Johnson speaking at a Vote Leave event in 2016

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The pair were neck-and-neck in Michigan and Biden was one-point ahead in Pennsylvania.

But Trump managed to pull ahead in the Great Lake State and draw level in the Keystone State when the pollster included Kennedy’s candidacy

A separate survey by Suffolk University suggested a slightly different story, with Kennedy’s supporters otherwise supporting the 45th President by a margin of two-to-one.

Kennedy Jr is positioning himself as a natural alternative to resolute Republicans on Covid but could win over disgruntled Democrats on other issues, including reparations.

Comparisons between Brexit and Trump have become increasingly common as both votes were lauded by the populist right as seminal moments in recent political history.

Trump himself celebrated the 2016 referendum and described himself as “Mr Brexit” when GB News presenter joined him on the campaign trail.

Nigel Farage (left) with Donald Trump (right) on the campaign trail in 2016

Nigel Farage (left) with Donald Trump (right) on the campaign trail in 2016

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The Vote Leave campaign, spearheaded by Boris Johnson and Michael Gove, sought to distance itself from Trump’s overtures at the time.

But Brexiteers delivered the most seismic political change to the UK as voters opted to sever ties with the Brussels bloc by 52 per cent to 48 per cent.

Support for leaving the EU was reaffirmed in the 2019 General Election when Johnson’s Tories romped to victory after pledging to “Get Brexit Done”.

The Trump campaign and efforts by Eurosceptics to drag the UK out of the bloc have also been accused of using similar slogans, with Vote Leave vowing to “Take Back Control and the property-tycoon-turned-politician echoing Ronald Reagan’s “Make America Great Again” message.

Trump, who is hoping to join Grover Cleveland as the only Commanders-in-Chief to serve two non-consecutive terms in the Oval Office, is leading his Republican rivals in the ongoing GOP primary.

Despite being dogged by dozens of legal disputes, 77-year-old is seemingly consolidating his support with his base and is neck-and-neck with Biden is most national surveys.

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