Next week, Donald Trump will arrive in London, and he’ll be met with a royal welcome.
Dining with the king, riding in opulent carriages—these experiences carry a kind of dignity that feels almost mythical.
But this royal treatment stands in stark contrast to what Graham Linehan faced recently when he arrived from Texas.
The Irish comedian was apprehended by five armed officers and placed in a cell due to a joke he made online about a transwoman in Arizona—something that happened far away, yet somehow resonated powerfully in the UK.
His so-called “crime”? He suggested a firm approach if a transwoman wouldn’t exit a women’s changing room: “Block him to the ball.”
It wasn’t even a joke made in Britain. Still, British authorities have taken on the role of internet enforcers in what feels like a strange new world.
Let’s see what occurs.
This situation drew a chuckle from Labour’s leader, Sir Keir Starmer, who chatted with Trump in July. “Freedom of speech has existed in the UK for a long time,” he asserted, but some might question if it’s still the case.
Meanwhile, Ofcom, the UK’s online regulator, is embroiled in legal disputes with US firms, claiming jurisdiction. It’s a complicated and somewhat bleak situation.
Thus, it’s not surprising that Linehan is contemplating seeking asylum in the U.S.
The internet is filled with clips of British officers knocking on doors over social media posts, and even journalists are feeling the impact of vaguely defined “noncriminal hate cases” that arise from poorly formed laws like the online safety bill. It seems like a political boon for the left.
In 2023 alone, around 13,000 such incidents were logged, and Nigel Farage recently warned that the UK is heading down a slippery slope toward a regime like North Korea.
Still, the leader of the Reform Party is hopeful that the focus won’t shift to serious crimes but will remain fixated on social media discussions and the like.
Fortunately, the current administration in the U.S. isn’t entirely ignoring these issues and maintains some respect for the UK as Trump notes that “something strange is happening,” and indeed it seems to be.
Now, as he prepares for his visit next week, many British citizens are hoping for more than just ceremonial engagements.
While the upcoming visit promises to be visually striking, things on the ground in the UK appear quite troubling.
Trump’s hardline stance on illegal immigration contrasts sharply with a current UK situation where thousands have crossed the English Channel in precarious boats this year.
Around 30,000 predominantly single males have arrived in 2023, nearly half the size of the British Army.
New arrivals are welcomed with accommodations and debit cards, seemingly disregarding the rigorous regulations many face.
The U.S. economy is booming compared to the UK’s, which is grappling with inflation and taxes at unprecedented peacetime levels. The UK is facing pressure for a more eco-friendly approach, but there’s pushback on regulations that hinder progress.
A stark contrast
While there are rising bonds in the West, tensions are high in the UK, where passing necessary budget cuts is proving difficult. Debt payments are now double the defense budget.
Traditional allies, including Israel, are also feeling pressure as the focus shifts toward acknowledging a Palestinian state amid evolving voter coalitions.
Crime in London is impacting tourism, while Washington is at least making efforts to address its own challenges.
Starmer’s approval ratings have slipped to -59%, in contrast to Trump’s favorable +55% this weekend.
There’s a lot on the agenda for the two leaders in London, and if Starmer isn’t cautious, he may find himself reconsidering British relations as more significant than ever.
“Harry Cole Saves the West,” is available on YouTube and as a podcast on various platforms.
