Britain loves its ‘special relationship’ with the U.S. — but that doesn’t mean Trump will love it back

A man holds an American flag depicting president-elect Donald Trump at Parliament Square in London in 2020.

Jeff J Mitchell | Getty Images News | Getty Images

The U.K. holds dear to its so-called “special relationship” with the U.S., priding itself on a long history of shared values and cultural, diplomatic, linguistic and commercial ties with the States.

London feels those long-standing bonds and geopolitical interests make its relationship with the U.S., well, special.

Whether that feeling of exceptionalism and unique closeness is appreciate or felt as keenly across the Atlantic has always been a bone of contention for London, however, and the bond between the U.S. and U.K. could be tested further when Donald Trumpreturns to the White Housefollowing his election win.

In the run-up to the vote, Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer had looked to strengthen the relationship with Trump, checking in on the Republican leader after an assassination attempt against him, and traveling to New York with Foreign Secretary David Lammy to dine with him at Trump Tower in September.

Congratulating the president-elect on his decisive win, Starmer posted on X that he looked forward to a collaborative partnership with Trump

“As the closest of allies,