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A spokesperson for the office of U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer told CNBC: “The United States is an indispensable ally for both our economic and national security. Talks on a deal between our countries have been continuing at pace and the Prime Minister will update later today.”
Well I’ll believe it when they actually confirm they’ve settled on a deal. The Trump Admin says lots of things that aren’t true.
Remember last week when Trump insisted he’s been talking with Xi Jinping and making progress on a deal only for China to immediately deny it? Yeah, no point in taking the White House at its word. They are not a reliable source.
Ah yes, appeasement. As we all know, always super effective against fascists
They’ve set the stage for Trump to just do this all again in 6 months.
I’m worried what the UK might have agreed to especially when I’ve read he wants other countries to punish China etc
Actually, it’s fairly likely that the UK is getting the better end of this deal.
First off, the UK is a net importer from the US already. So there’s no reason for Trump to even be chasing after them for a deal in the first place. This whole thing is supposed to be about wiping out the US’ trade deficits, but the US already runs a surplus with the UK. So why is this their first big “success”?
Second, the UK have been desparately trying to write new free trade agreements since 2016 and Brexit. They’ve been trying to hammer something out with the US for years, but neither side could agree on terms.
It’s very likely that what happened here is Trump needed a win, heard that the UK were eager to make a deal, and just told his underlings to get it done (this idiot can’t make it through a security briefing unless they break out the crayons, there’s no way he actually reads these deals), and with the sudden urgency from the White House the UK were able to get through some terms the US had previously resisted.
Of course, it’s possible the UK got ripped here as well. Like I said, they’re badly in need of new trade partners after they fucked their sweet deal with the EU. But the fact that they haven’t signed anything with the US previously, despite the urgency, strongly suggests that what they were being offered before wasn’t good enough.
The deal is written without any such provisions for restricting trade on either side.
That doesn’t preclude Trump inevitably throwing a shit fit when UK starts courting EU and China, but that remains to be seen
He did it! Did we not already have a deal with them before all of this stupidity?
Trump is about to crack, why would you buckle now? Let him dig his own grave a little deeper first before you toss him a lifeline.
UK PHONE RING
RING RING
RING RING
“Hello, you have reached …”
HELLOTHISISTHEUSOFFICEOFTHEPRESIDENTWEWANTTORECINDALLTARRIFSANDAGREETOTRADEBIDIRECTIONALLYWITHOUTANYFURTHERCUSTOMSORTAXESCALLUSBACKIFTHATSNOTOKTHANKSBYE
Meanwhile, in the White House:
“President Trump I need you to buy $50 billion in Walmart gift cards but do not redeem them, this is important for our trade deal”
Is this true? Genuine question. It’s Trump.
“Because of our long time history and allegiance together, it is a great honor to have the United Kingdom as our FIRST announcement. Many other deals, which are in serious stages of negotiation, to follow!”
“Allegiance” and “alliance” aren’t synonyms. Neither of us has held allegiance to the other since we were part of the British Empire in the colonial era. How do you manage to dick this up? Literally all you have to do is have someone write things on paper and open your mouth and say them without improvising.
You have to have a speechwriter on-staff.
kagis
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_Director_of_Speechwriting
Ross Worthington.
kagis
https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/01/14/congress/trump-worthington-00198301
Ross Worthington worked on many of Trump’s policy speeches, but the president-elect often veered off-script.
Trump praised his speechwriters but frequently went off script and had a habit of freelancing large portions of his speeches before returning to the teleprompter.
Yeah, no kidding.
Imagine if all his stuff was actually teleprompted. I wouldn’t even be surprised any more, just disappointed.
Step 1: Talk with Canada’s Prime Minister.
Step 2: ?
Step 3: Reach a deal with the UK?
