The 'Trump Effect' on British democracy
January 20th, 2025, will go down in history as the second inauguration of Donald Trump, marking his dramatic return to the political fold. The so-called ‘Trump Effect’ is already presenting several threats to British democracy and is casting a massive shadow over world politics and policy. Concurrently, Elon Musk’s provocative statements and growing influence have further intensified political tensions, here at home and on a global level. To say that turbulent times are ahead could be considered an understatement.
Trump’s re-emergence poses an interesting set of challenges upon the UK. From an economic perspective, reports suggest that government ministers are extremely concerned about his threats to impose tariffs on imports to the US. Economists are warning that a global trade war sparked by Trump would halve Britain’s economic growth, underscoring the potential economic repercussions posed by his policies.
Adding to these concerns, Keir Starmer’s charm offensive to the President has done little to ease growing worries about their relationship. This follows Trump’s campaign filing complaints with the FEC, accusing Labour of “blatant foreign interference” in last year’s election, muddying the water of international diplomacy. It is clear to see that there will be teething problems in the dynamic of the ‘special relationship’ while Trump settles back into office. Perhaps pandering to his far-right agenda won’t bring us the benefits we hope it will.
Trump’s appointment of Elon Musk as the lead of his new Department of Government Efficiency has also been met with significant opposition across the UK. This unease is mirrored by public sentiment, as highlighted by a recent Opinium poll which emphasised growing public concern about Elon Musk’s influence – 53% of voters believe that Musk is having a negative impact on British politics, compared to just 12% who view his influence positively. These alarming figures reflect the deep-seated mistrust of Musk’s intentions and his outsized ability to set the public agenda.
Likewise, his controversial comments on social media – including claims that “civil war was inevitable” and calls for the US to “liberate the people of Britain” – have amplified the spread of misinformation and hate. Such rhetoric undermines democracy and risks making violence a more likely occurrence, particularly against racialised and minority communities. Coupled with echoes of last summer’s riots, his actions pose a potential threat to democracy and electoral integrity.
Beyond the immediate danger of incitement, Musk’s posts are becoming a frequent distraction from the critical issues at hand. A billionaire’s narrative of pointing the finger away from their own hoarding of immense wealth, and instead scapegoating immigrants and Muslims. With his bile dominating public discourse and media headlines, we must ask: how long can this distortion of focus continue? Musk is not the only threat, many of the President's nominations are shrouded in controversy, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., responsible for spreading misinformation about vaccines. Governments urgently need to get a grip on out-of-control media moguls and regulate ownership to ensure that a free and independent media can hold power to account, and not controlled by those with power.
The rising influence of figures like Trump and Musk underlines the urgent need to address the role of billionaires in politics. Their unchecked interventions risk interfering with democratic processes and eroding trust in institutions. The left must seize this opportunity to advocate for bold measures: banning billionaires from funding political parties, taking back control of our media, and implementing wealth taxes to rebuild our crumbling public services and redistribute wealth.
While billionaire wealth has skyrocketed in recent years, growing by almost £150bn between 2020 and 2022, revenue from wealth taxes has remained stagnant. Thus, the untapped potential of taxing extreme wealth is evident. Recent research has demonstrated that a proposed wealth tax of 2% on assets over £10 million would raise £24 billion per year, offering a transformative opportunity we need to grasp.
As the Tories and Reform continue their lurch to the right, emboldened by significant interventions from figures like Trump and Musk, the need for strong and progressive left policies is unmistakably clear. This period must be viewed as a critical juncture for progressive politics to offer a compelling vision that prioritises equality and the protection of democratic institutions.
In his farewell address, President Biden warned that “an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence that really threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedom”. This oligarchy made significant advances on his watch, and the Labour leadership would do well to take note. Our movement must confront and overcome the formidable challenges posed by such an oligarchy. There could be dangerous consequences if Trump’s and Musk’s abuses of power is left unchecked. Billionaires wielding undue influence have no place in a democratic society.
Kim Johnson is the Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside.
