Sally Allen: Unpredictable headlines from Trump to Prince Andrew

Well, what a week of astounding news from all round the globe. It has been very interesting to see that Trump is co-opting the most successful and brilliant brains in the USA to help him plan the transition to his second-term government.

Meetings have already taken place at Trump’s Florida resort, Mar-a-Lago with two of his most valued “house guests”, the billionaire Tesla boss Elon Musk and the billionaire co-founder of Oracle, Larry Ellison.

Trump’s gathering together of all the best and most successful business-people in USA to assist him in planning America’s future seems to make perfect sense to me.

Their involvement won’t necessarily mean that they will all have an official job in the government, but they will be welcome to sit in on meetings that the President-elect thinks appropriate to advise when required. However, their involvement appears to have made this potentially the most conflict-ridden presidential transition in modern history.

In the UK we are awash with great brains of our own, but sadly none are visible in politics. Just to name a few: Sir Richard Branson, John Caudwell, Sir James Dyson, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Peter Jones. Actually, there are so many it is difficult to count them all. Some of them have already offered free and objective assistance to governments, past and present, and yet not one of them has been co-opted to help the ever-floundering muppets in Westminster. I really don’t understand why. The value even one meeting discussing any subject with anyone of them would enlighten even the dullest of wits.

I have always had massive concerns regarding another Trump presidency, but just maybe he is what the world needs at this precise moment when we are all standing on a very crumbly precipice. All around the world instability is rife. The fall of the brutal Syrian regime on December 8 after 13 years of civil war that fractured the country, was a shock due to its swiftness mixed with immense relief. Rebel fighters declared Damacus “liberated” in a video statement on state television, sending Syrian President Bashar al-Assad high-tailing it to Russia. In turn of course, this was a blow to Putin, who is currently to be seen moving his troops out of the area, and let’s never forget that Putin doesn’t like any type of withdrawal. If I was Assad sitting in Moscow having my breakfast today, I think I would have hired an army of food tasters – just in case, as the Russian leader is probably not a happy bunny having currently lost his influence in the region.

Trump seems to have the war in Ukraine in his sights as well and is going to try to bring about peace and at least it appears that both sides might listen. So, who knows, the unpredictable behaviour of the next President of USA may just work in our favour.

Added to this, President-elect Donald Trump has invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend his inauguration next month, and inauguration officials are making plans for additional foreign dignitaries to attend the swearing-in ceremony.

Apparently, Trump invited Xi in early November, shortly after the election, but it’s not clear whether he has accepted the invitation as yet. It seems that Trump is creating an open dialogue with leaders of countries that are not just allies but also adversaries and competitors too. It is a great example of the old adage of keeping your friends close but keeping your enemies closer. Actually, always a sound decision in my view in both business and politics.

Speaking of leadership, reading the latest revelations of the supremely arrogant and stupid Prince Andrew, I think we all owe a great debt of gratitude to his parents that he was their second born child and not their first. What a shocking shambles it would be if the clown prince were to be our King. I have met Andrew on many occasions through work and he and his equally stupid wife are an on-going self-serving embarrassment to our country. I just hope that HRH King Charles doesn’t ever give him back in any role in the Royal family. I have long been a believer in the fact that an accident of birth doesn’t entitle you to respect and that it should be earnt. Respect is something very special and should not be squandered on people who clearly have no respect for others. He is well-known for his treatment of his staff and the rollicking he gives anyone who doesn’t put his teddies back on his bed in the right order!! I think he should be kept out of sight permanently. He truly is a liability and clearly a ‘mark’ for any spiv seeking influence or introductions. The extraordinary thing is that he has no idea what a liability he is, just consider how he thought he had made a terrific success out of his interview with Emily Maitlis. It is self-delusion on a mammoth scale.

I found this Christmas quiz by Alison Phillips in The Guardian and couldn’t resist including it and I hope it gives you a titter.

Is Prince Andrew:

1. a) Thicker than a fig pudding?
2. b) Greedier than Scrooge?
3. c) More puffed-up than grandad after a plate of sprouts? Or:
4. d) All of the above, plus a threat to national security who has cavorted with a suspected spy and a convicted paedophile, plus other ne’er do wells in his bid for cash and kudos?

It might just become a subject around the Christmas dinner table at Sandringham!

I hope you all have a splendid and extremely happy Christmas.