The True Monstrosity flying over Trump’s UK Visit
A foul sense of narcissism, grandiosity and hot air seems to perpetually linger around the current US President. Whether its Trump’s personal disposition towards destructive individualism or his administration’s unique ability to effortlessly distract the media, we are not merely discussing a controversial political figure, but a controversial and fragile human being.
Of course, a true Englishman should always refrain from verbally maligning others based solely on persona. However, I have come to realise that Donald Trump’s politics are inextricably bound up with who he is a person. Time and time again we see executive decisions being made that ultimately reflect a moral compass more aligned with that of a mosquito than that of a man. He will fly in to your nation, awkwardly befriend your politicians and then take all that he desires, leaving behind a poisonous disease of fear and hatred.
As the UK government prepares to roll out the red carpet for this living embodiment of arrogance and entitlement, various grassroots groups and trade unions have also been preparing for the big day. An online crowd-funded campaign has managed to raise £16,000 to create a giant, inflatable figure portraying Donald Trump as an angry baby. One cannot help but be amused by the thought of an enormous flying baby overshadowing the Houses of Parliament. As one might expect, there has been huge uproar regarding the Mayor of London’s decision to approve such a monstrosity over London’s skyline. Not least because Britain will increasingly rely on US trade in a post-Brexit world, therefore humiliating the President would be a mistake. I entirely understand this viewpoint.
However, on Friday 13th I march, not against our friendly relationship with America nor its people but against the monstrosity of a man who incarcerates children and separates them from their families, a man who discriminates against race based on unfounded prejudices, and a man who inspires our societal fears as though they were virtuous. We already know how to get his attention; one merely has to humiliate him. Michael Wolff’s biography brilliantly demonstrated how angry and petulant the President gets when his character is called into question. Similarly, the ‘giant baby’ scheduled to fly over London next week also taps into this idea and will undoubtedly frustrate his ego.
We should also remember that this country has a proud tradition of standing up to malign political power even when the consequences of doing so may be detrimental. I take enormous inspiration from past struggles that were hard won by ordinary people in order to gain political freedom. As such, I cannot sit idly when the world’s chief antagonist shows up on our doorstep.
