As with so many of the aphorisms and witticisms attributed to Winston Churchill, it is impossible to verify whether the greatest Briton actually ever said that ‘Americans can always be trusted to the right thing, once all the other possibilities have been exhausted’. But that expression immediately came to my mind when reading J. D. Vance’s UnHerd interview – and over a remark entailing Churchill’s prime ministerial successor, to boot. Vance’s real message to Europe? Anthony Eden woz rite.
The Vice-President said much of interest. The news that the UK and US are close to signing a ‘great agreement’ on trade had the Ftse 100 rallying. Vance’s claim that that ‘you can’t separate American culture from European culture’ will surprise and delight those on this side of the Atlantic only familiar with him from his recent performances in Munich and the Oval Office. His confirmation that Donald Trump ‘loves the King’ will make Keir Starmer even keener on finalising that state visit.
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