Fiona Bruce led Question Time’s discussion around what four more years of Donald Trump will mean for the UK and the BBC show, which this week was filmed in Hartlepool
Author Bonnie Greer warns Donald Trump is ‘transactional’
The Labour government was tonight warned to “act savvy” in dealing with Donald Trump – because “he has no concept of the special relationship”.
The primary focus of BBC’s Question Time this week was the newly elected US president, who stormed to victory on Tuesday. During the programme, this week filmed in Hartlepool, County Durham, author Bonnie Greer warned Mr Trump, 78, is “ammoral and transactional”. The playwright, born in Chicago, Illinois, said: “If you can do something for this man… you’re in. If you can’t… you won’t. He has no concept of the special relationship.”
Addressing the audience, Ms Greer said she lived in New York City in the 1980s and believes she has seen firsthand Mr Trump is “a totally ammoral, transactional businessman”. At this point, the crowd clapped but one man, pictured on camera, appeared to hesitate and roll his eyes. He had previously suggested the UK will receive economical benefits from the re-lection of Mr Trump, who was in charge of his family’s real estate venture in the 1970s and 1980s.
Ms Greer added: “If you can do something for the United States, you’re in. If you can’t, you’re not. He has no concept of the special relationship. It doesn’t mean anything to him… He doesn’t see what the United Kingdom is giving the United States monetarily… Nada, in comparison. What the Labour government is going to have to do is be savvy enough to understand that the underlying question with Donald Trump is ‘what can you do for me?'”
Shadow Home Office Minister Matt Vickers later told the Hartlepool audience he believes there is “huge potential” for UK-US trade and defence agreements with the Trump administration. To which, the previous man who appeared to disagree with Ms Greer nodded warmly.
Mr Vickers said: “The Labour government needs to pull up the chair, get round the table… to try and deliver free trade, and ensure those tariffs don’t happen.”
Outgoing president Joe Biden urged Americans to come together in the wake of Mr Trump’s election victory. The US leader urged unity in the wake of the divisive election, in which his vice president Kamala Harris was trounced at the ballot box. Speaking in the White House Rose Garden, Biden – who is still in post until January 20 – said the people deserve a peaceful transition.
