JK Rowling, like so many countless others, has watched President Trump’s actions with horror over the past few days.
The new US president has taken steps to build his promised wall across the Mexican border, clamped down on legal immigrants, angered climate change activists by agreeing to construction on the Dakota Access and Keystone XL oil pipelines, and purged the LGBT rights section from the official White House website.
Perhaps more worryingly still, Trump has also gone on record to say that he believes torture methods, such as waterboarding, should be used to “keep our country safe”. And, of course, he has threatened women’s rights by banning aid funding for groups that offer abortions or abortion advocacy – a move which many believe will cause the deaths of thousands of women.
However it has since been revealed that Theresa May – who is due to become the first world leader to meet with Trump – is set to pledge to rekindle the UK’s so-called “special relationship” with the US, and, in doing so, offer her indirect support to his controversial stance on a wide range of world issues.
Now Rowling, in a last-ditch attempt to bring May around to reason, has sent a blunt warning to the prime minister on Twitter.
“History’s watching, Theresa,” she wrote simply.
It seems unlikely that May will take Rowling’s words to heart – especially as, according to The Guardian, the prime minister has already prepared a warm speech for her meeting with the Republicans.
“The United Kingdom is by instinct and history a great, global nation that recognises its responsibilities to the world,” she will tell them. “And as we end our membership of the European Union – as the British people voted with determination and quiet resolve to do last year – we have the opportunity to reassert our belief in a confident, sovereign and global Britain, ready to build relationships with old friends and new allies alike.
“So as we rediscover our confidence together – as you renew your nation just as we renew ours – we have the opportunity, indeed the responsibility, to renew the special relationship for this new age. We have the opportunity to lead, together, again.”
May will go on to say that developing a stronger special relationship is “important not only to Britain and America but to the world”, Downing Street said.
Her stance has angered many UK citizens, not least of all Rowling; earlier this week, the Harry Potter author branded May “an affluent white woman”.
“Yes, Trump’s about to meet an affluent white woman begging him for a trade deal,” she tweeted mockingly.
“He’ll be reading ‘Feminism is for Everybody’ by teatime.”
When she was later challenged by May supporters over her comments, Rowling went on to stress that it would take a radically different type of woman to alter Trump’s views on the world.
“Affluent white women have 'been there' all his life. How exactly will another one kow-towing to him reform him?” the 51 year old asked them.
“I think it's laughable that Theresa May asserts that doing her job = a feminist position.”
Images: Rex pictures
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