Good evening! This week's edition of the In Common newsletter comes from Kaitlyn Dryburgh.
Trump is once again set to head the most powerful and influential nation in the world. What does that mean for the rest of us? Well a significant amount, and depending on where you call home it could mean a great deal.
Trump is without a doubt a moron, and a dangerous one at that. He represents the worst qualities you could possibly possess as a person. What he apparently plans on doing while he’s president for the second time is both inhumane and political suicide (if he carries everything he promised out to the letter, which he probably won’t).
Yet he’s not completely stupid. It pains me to say that he may even be intuitive when it comes to political strategy. Boy can he tap into his "fan base" and understand the fears and hopes of voters and exploit them for his benefit. He gives voters the recognition that they so desperately wish for, something the Democrats seem to be lacking in. He is of course not actually "one with the people", but does that really matter when he gives the illusion that he is?
But that’s basically as far as my half-arsed attempts at finding common ground with Trump goes. He is at the end of the day a moron, and stupid is what stupid does. What he says doesn't resonate with the majority of people in Scotland and few of them are seeking to become cosy with him and his administration.
As expected the congratulations came rolling from other world leaders after the results. My personal favourite came from Macron (below) who mentioned “with your convictions and mine” in his congratulatory tweet, which I thought was quite good. It is hard to stomach what looks like a lot of ass-kissing from all corners of the globe, and accepting that it's standard diplomacy doesn't really make it easier.
John Swinney also took the opportunity to congratulate Trump on the recent election results. Having previously taken the opportunity to publicly endorse Harris, Swinney now wants to emphasis the “economic, social and cultural ties between Scotland and the US”.
The economic ties have become somewhat of a concern for the First Minister. During a visit to the Whisky Experience in Edinburgh Swinney expressed his concern for the whisky industry if President Trump did re-introduce tariffs on imports to the US, which he is planning on doing (a policy decision that many have warned would negatively affect the inflation in the US).
When they were introduced under the previous Trump administration the Scottish whisky industry was estimated to have lost £600 million on revenue. Yet Swinney’s absolute concern for the whisky industry is really at loggerheads with what many people in Scotland feel. Yes we acknowledge that Scotland should look to have a good relationship with the US. But must that come at a sacrifice of standing up against what many consider to be fascism?
I’m not sure the people of Scotland, especially the younger generation, really see the need to be quite so all-in on fostering this special relationship and bowing down in the face of an awful person because of a booming, mostly foreign-owned industry that operates in Scotland.
I’m sure many are proud of the Scottish whisky industry, given that this world-renowned product is a kind of ambassador for Scotland in liquid form. Yet, the numerous distilleries scattered throughout Scotland are on the whole owned by large parent companies outside of Scotland. Only around a third are Scottish-owned at all. Of course the whisky industry is a big pull for tourism and that in itself brings money to Scotland, but a lot of that is driven by big corporations like Diageo and Pernod Ricard.
However, this could be about any industry in Scotland. The point is, how far are we really willing to make a compromise with the US every single time it demands one, all in the name of money for companies from outside of Scotland, and no matter how morally abhorrent the compromise?
This "special relationship" really feels like it is losing its shine. The thought of a second Trump administration is without question off-putting, but the way the Biden administration has approached the situation in Gaza has already left us at odds with the US.
For the younger generations the "special relationship" between the UK and the US means a whole lot less. Young adults in Europe are becoming more and more critical of the US. Its self-interested and deeply hypocritical way of policing global politics isn’t sitting well with young adults in the UK, France, and Germany. They understand the need to co-operate and engage with the US, but being dictated to by a country that seems to be creating more issues than it is solving is becoming less appealing.
A powerful ally, yes, but at what cost? It currently feels like it is demanded of us that we have to make an allowance for the US. Do we really need to be buddying up with Trump, all in the name of low tax on whisky exports? Recently, it seems that the price is too high – and Scottish politicians may wish to think long and hard before paying it and assuming my generation will forgive them.
