Boris Johnson on Donald Trump
Boris Johnson has offered a complex but predominantly critical assessment of Donald Trump, particularly concerning his suitability for high office. As Mayor of London, Johnson strongly condemned Trump's false claims that there were 'no-go zones' in London inaccessible to non-Muslims. Johnson stated this showed a 'stupefying ignorance' which made Donald Trump frankly unfit to be President of the United States.
Johnson also expressed personal worry about a potential Trump presidency and recounted being mistaken for him in New York as one of the worst moments of his life. This critical stance on Trump's temperament and knowledge preceded Johnson's time as Prime Minister.
However, when discussing Brexit negotiations, Boris Johnson once drew a comparison between his own combative approach and Trump's trade style. He suggested that Trump's aggressive method might achieve results, indicating a recognition of Trump's unorthodox negotiating tactics, even if he disagreed with the man himself.
Context
Boris Johnson's comments on Donald Trump are significant because of the close diplomatic relationship traditionally expected between the UK and US leaders, particularly concerning the 'Special Relationship'. As Mayor of London, Johnson was in a position to directly refute Trump's claims about the city, giving his statement on Trump's fitness for office significant weight.
Furthermore, Johnson's comparison of his own Brexit strategy to Trump's trade war tactics provides context on how Johnson viewed Donald Trump as a political operator whose aggressive stance held a certain utility, despite Johnson's public reservations about his temperament.
Timeline
- Boris Johnson, then Mayor of London, criticised then-presidential candidate Donald Trump for falsely claiming there were no-go zones in London.
- Johnson expressed genuine worry about the prospect of Donald Trump becoming president.
- While discussing Brexit strategy with cabinet colleagues, Johnson compared his desired negotiating style to that of Donald Trump, suggesting Trump's hardline approach might yield results.
Key Quotes
betraying a quite stupefying ignorance that makes him frankly unfit to hold the office of President of the United States
I was genuinely worried that he could become president
Imagine Trump doing Brexit. He'd go in bloody hard ... There'd be all sorts of breakdowns, all sorts of chaos. Everyone would think he'd gone mad. But actually you might get somewhere.
Comparison
- Temperament: Johnson generally presented a more jocular and self-deprecating public image, contrasting with Donald Trump's often combative and unyielding persona.
- Political Style: Scholars drew comparisons between Johnson's populist tendencies and Trumpism, though Johnson’s ideological commitments were often seen as more fluid or contradictory than Trump's more fixed platform.
Sources3
Boris Johnson criticised then-presidential candidate Donald Trump's false comments that there were no-go zones in London inaccessible for non-Muslims.
* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.