President Trump’s second inaugural speech was no exercise in humility. Rather, it was full of the bombast and braggadocio we have come to expect from the new President.
The fact that the ceremonies had to be held largely indoors was revealing. It was interesting to see who was in and who was out. Boris Johnson made it to the church, even though Trump has said Boris is a little too “woke” these days.
My old friends and colleagues Liz Truss and Suella Braverman didn’t quite make that cut, but both were fulsome in their praise of the newly installed President. All made the trip to Washington in the freezing cold, like medieval pilgrims seeking divine solace at a reputable and time-honoured shrine.
“Divine solace” is certainly what many politicians crave after they have been relieved of their earthly duties by the electorate. As somebody who was an MP and held cabinet office, I recognise the desire to remain relevant, to be “involved” and feel oneself to be at the centre of great events.
The draw to Washington to see one of the great spectacles of the age was, therefore, irresistible. This is particularly the case if, like Truss, you have lost your seat in the House of Commons. For Braverman and Nigel Farage, current MPs, to travel to Washington is somewhat of an indulgence.
My memory is that Monday nights were almost always late nights in the House of Commons. So maybe their party whips had given them the green light to attend Trump’s inauguration events. In Nigel Farage’s case, obviously, such a question is irrelevant, given his autocratic rule of Reform.
Despite the flair for theatrics and egotistical bombast, Trump remains deeply distrusted in Britain, so it’s never been clear to me why so many of my colleagues in the Tory party prostrate themselves at his altar.
There is no peace in Trump's new American empire
Read MoreHe is a remarkable politician, without doubt. But his egotism is mind-numbingly tedious and all too predictable. “It is my hope that our recent presidential election will be remembered as the greatest and most consequential election in the history of our country.” Really? I don’t think he is worthy of worship and adulation by a servile crowd of British political figures, many of whose careers are effectively over.
Servility was also on display from the tech oligarchs, Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and others, all wearing suits and ties. They were all on best behaviour. Some of these figures, I suspect, secretly despise Trump and some were Democrat supporters until recently. Yet, like my former colleagues, they are cynical and ruthless enough to pretend that they worship Trump too.
We should all know the drill by now. All the usual tropes Trump has used since 2015 were on full display on Monday. What was new was the messianic tone. He is now a saviour on a divine mission. “I was saved by God to make America great again,” he said.
Yet, for all his colossal egotism, President Trump can, with some justification, claim to be the head of a movement. It’s a movement which has roots far back into the American past – nativism and the hostility to immigrants are nothing new. Trump is now the undisputed global leader of the right.
Trump's back - and this time, he has God on his side
Read MoreBut the inauguration is only the start. Nobody, in truth, has any idea how the Trump presidency ends. The speech was reportedly meant to be an hour. It lasted only 30 minutes, since Melania Trump, the First Lady, and JD Vance, the Vice President, apparently advised that some of the more egregious matter be removed.
Beyond the rather hackneyed talking points, which boil down to toughness against illegal immigrants at home and against foreigners abroad, Trump is an agent of chaos not consistency.
Yesterday ultimately felt like a journey into the unknown. British politicians should be wary where it might lead them.
Kwasi Kwarteng is a former Conservative MP. He served as chancellor between September and October 2022 under Liz Truss
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