Farage Backs U.S. Joining Commonwealth After Trump's Endorsement
Right-wing British Member of Parliament Nigel Farage has expressed support for the idea of the United States joining the British Commonwealth after former President Donald Trump suggested the possibility on Friday.
Newsweek has reached out to the British prime minister’s office, Farage, and the Commonwealth for comment.
Why It Matters
The Commonwealth consists primarily of former British colonies or dependencies, formed after the breakup of the British Empire in the mid-20th century. The idea of the U.S. joining the group presents a striking contrast to Trump’s more critical stance on organizations like NATO and the United Nations.
The U.S., originally 13 British colonies, fought the American Revolution for independence from Britain between 1775 and 1783. Despite this history, the U.S. and the U.K. have since developed a strong alliance, particularly during and after the World Wars of the 20th century.
What to Know
Farage, leader of Reform UK and a major advocate for Brexit, commented on the idea of U.S. Commonwealth membership following Trump’s reaction to the suggestion.
"A Commonwealth with the USA would complete the alliance of the English-speaking peoples and help prevent the spread of CCP influence. I helped to launch the Royal Commonwealth Society of America in 2017," Farage wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Trump had earlier shared an article from the British tabloid The Sun, which claimed King Charles III was making a "secret offer" to the White House for the U.S. to become an associate member of the Commonwealth.
"I Love King Charles. Sounds good to me!" Trump wrote in response. He later shared a link to the article again on Saturday morning.
According to The Daily Mail, the proposal could make the U.S. the Commonwealth’s 57th member at a time when U.S.-EU relations have been strained due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. The move is seen as a way to strengthen the "special relationship" between the U.S. and U.K., despite America’s historic break from British rule in the 18th century.
While joining the Commonwealth would be largely symbolic—since the organization does not govern its member nations—it could potentially provide economic benefits, such as avoiding the steel and aluminum tariffs Trump has vowed to implement.
Trump has long expressed admiration for the British royal family and visited Buckingham Palace during a state visit in his first term. The idea of U.S. Commonwealth membership was first raised during his administration from 2017 to 2021.
What People Are Saying
- British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, at a roundtable with U.S. business leaders (February 27):
"There is no more important relationship for the United Kingdom, in defense, in security, in trade, in tech, in finance, and so much more." - King Charles III, in a statement on Commonwealth Day (March 10):
"In these uncertain times, where it is all too easy to believe that our differences are problems instead of a source of strength and a learning opportunity, the Commonwealth's remarkable collection of nations and peoples come together in the spirit of support and, crucially, friendship... The Commonwealth's ability to bring together people from all over the world has stood the test of time and remains as ever-important today."
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