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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Business
William Keegan

Without the EU, the joke is on us if Trump gets his tariffs

European Union flags flutter outside the European Central Bank (ECB) headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany
Most surveys show the majority of the UK electorate regard Brexit as a serious mistake. Photograph: Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters

‘As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last, and the White House will be occupied by a downright fool and complete narcissistic moron.”

Those were the words of the great American journalist HL Mencken (in the Baltimore Evening Sun, 26 July 1920). The impending arrival back at the White House surely fulfils his prophecy.

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