An American president lecturing Britain on internal domestic matters is highly objectionable. Except when it isn’t. Good Morning America journalist Terry Moran on Friday derided Donald Trump for “barging into British domestic politics, slamming Prime Minister [Theresa] May for her plan for Brexit.” But the same Moran in 2016 had no objections to Barack Obama injecting himself into Britain’s highly contested decision on whether to leave the European Union, just weeks before the decisive vote.
On Friday’s GMA, Moran slammed the current president: “It's called the special relationship, America and Britain. Some people saying with special friends like this, who needs enemies?” He added: “But no doubt right now that special relationship is strained.”
Moran fretted about Trump threatening Britain: “And an extraordinary threat if Britain does it her way there will be no trade deal for principal with Trump's America.”
At the very end of the report, Moran suddenly recalled Obama telling the British people what to do back in 2016:
I remember when Barack Obama came here, he tried to tell the British people how to vote on Brexit. They didn't like that. I don't think they'll like this much more. Robin?
It’s funny that Moran “remembers” this now because he didn’t report it back on April 22, 2016. Covering the story for GMA, he instead focused on Obama’s visit with the Queen:
That was such a warm moment, the Queen herself in an extraordinary gesture of friendship coming out with Prince Phillip to greet the Obamas. President Obama, the 12th U.S. President she has seen during her reign.
Brexit and the European Union never came up in the segment. Moran certainly didn’t accuse Obama of “barging into British domestic politics.” It wasn’t until World News Tonight later that evening that Moran briefly noticed: “Britain is about to vote whether to leave the troubled European Union. Obama's urging them to stay.”
Pretty bland. The journalist brushed the Democrat's intervention aside to gush: “But the politics here are secondary. This is really a farewell trip.”
As for Moran’s worry that Trump is “threatening” Britain? Obama actually did that on his trip, writing in an op-ed that if the country voted for Brexit: “The U.K. is going to be in the back of the queue.”
A transcript is below. Click “expand” to read more.
GMA
7/13/18
7:02:31 to 7:05:51ROBIN ROBERTS: But first, the latest on President Trump in the home stretch of his high-stakes trip to Europe. He’s getting ready to have tea with the Queen. But already having harsh words for Britain's Prime Minister in that explosive new interview overnight. Our chief foreign correspondent Terry Moran is tracking it all for us from there in London. Good morning, Terry.
TERRY MORAN: Good morning, Robin. Well, here it is, that blockbuster interview world exclusive in The Sun. President Trump directly intervening into British politics, one of the other papers putting it rather more bluntly: Donald Thump they redubbed him. It's called the special relationship, America and Britain. Some people saying with special friends like this, who needs enemies? But no doubt right now that special relationship is strained. This morning, an awkward meeting with America's closest ally, President Trump with British Prime Minister Theresa May.
DONALD TRUMP: The relationship is very, very strong.
MORAN: It was awkward because of that bombshell interview Trump gave to the British tabloid, The Sun.
UNIDENTIFIED: Do you regret your comments to The sun?
MORAN: A U.S. president barging into British domestic politics, slamming Prime Minister may for her plan for Brexit, that's the U.K.'s withdrawal from the European Union.
TRUMP: I would have done it much differently. I actually told Theresa May how to do it but she didn't agree — she didn't listen to me. If you really look, she probably went the opposite way.
MORAN: And an extraordinary threat if Britain does it her way there will be no trade deal for principal with Trump's America.
TRUMP: If they do that their trade deal with the U.S. will probably not be made. I'd say that would probably end a major trade relationship with the United States.
MORAN: And as protesters against the President gathered on the streets of London, Trump says he feels unwelcome. Singling out the Trump baby blimp that will be flying all day.
TRUMP: To make me feel unwelcome, no reason for me to go to London. I love — I used to love London as a city but when they make you feel unwelcome, why would I stay there?
MORAN: And he lashed out at the city's mayor, Sadiq Khan, blaming him for recent terror attacks here.
TRUMP: You have a mayor who's done a terrible job in London. I think he's done a very bad job on terrorism.
MORAN: The White House frantically doing damage control overnight saying in a statement, “The President likes and respects Prime Minister may very much. He is thankful for the wonderful welcome from the prime minister here in the U.K.” That very British welcome coming before that interview was published. May greeting President Trump and the First Lady at the magnificent Blenheim Palace. The President delighted by a military parade and the pomp and circumstance won't end there. Today, the President meets with Queen Elizabeth for tea praising her in that same interview.
TRUMP: If you think of it for so many years she's represented her country, she has really never made a mistake. You don't see, like, anything embarrassing. You don't — she's just an incredible woman.
MORAN: They'll meet here at Windsor Castle, the Queen has met with every U.S. President in
her long reign except for Lyndon Johnson who never made a trip to the U.K. Tea with the Queen for the President and first lady Melania Trump. You know, I remember when Barack Obama came here, he tried to tell the British people how to vote on Brexit. They didn't like that. I don't think they'll like this much more. Robin?
