this post was submitted on 08 May 2025
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[–] [email protected] 52 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

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.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Ah yes, appeasement. As we all know, always super effective against fascists

[–] [email protected] 11 points 6 days ago

They've set the stage for Trump to just do this all again in 6 months.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 6 days ago (2 children)

I'm worried what the UK might have agreed to especially when I've read he wants other countries to punish China etc

[–] Voroxpete 13 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (1 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 days ago

Like I said, they're badly in need of new trade partners after they fucked their sweet deal with the EU.

Too soon.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

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

[–] [email protected] 12 points 6 days ago (1 children)

He did it! Did we not already have a deal with them before all of this stupidity?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 days ago

No. The UK has been trying to get a good deal but who knew that a single country would struggle to get a deal as good as they had when they were negotiating with 27 others on their side.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 6 days ago (1 children)

UK PHONE RING

RING RING

RING RING

"Hello, you have reached ...."

HELLOTHISISTHEUSOFFICEOFTHEPRESIDENTWEWANTTORECINDALLTARRIFSANDAGREETOTRADEBIDIRECTIONALLYWITHOUTANYFURTHERCUSTOMSORTAXESCALLUSBACKIFTHATSNOTOKTHANKSBYE

[–] [email protected] 15 points 6 days ago

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”

[–] [email protected] 9 points 6 days ago

Is this true? Genuine question. It's Trump.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 6 days ago (1 children)

“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.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago

Imagine if all his stuff was actually teleprompted. I wouldn't even be surprised any more, just disappointed.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 days ago

Step 1: Talk with Canada's Prime Minister.

Step 2: ?

Step 3: Reach a deal with the UK?

[–] [email protected] 6 points 6 days ago

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.