British Unfamiliar Secretary Boris Johnson attends an official dinner at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
Peter Nicholls | WPA Reserves | Getty Images
This political leader has an instantly recognizable mop of blond hair, doesn’t shy away from the limelight, has been embroiled in certain scandals and is known for his off-the-cuff, unfiltered and often highly charged comments.
President Donald Trump? No, we’re talking yon the U.K.’s next prime minister, Boris Johnson.
Trump himself has suggested that Johnson was a kindred spirit. The president advanced praise Tuesday after Johnson’s victory in his leadership race, saying “he’s tough and he’s smart.”
“They call him ‘Britain Trump,’ and people are symbolizing that’s a good thing. They like me over there. That’s what they wanted. That’s what they want,” Trump told an audience in Washington.
The two leaders have recently formed closer bonds. Trump endorsed Johnson in his control contest, saying he would do a “great job” as prime minister. But just how similar are Trump and Johnson? Here’s a variety of theses that they might agree on or downright clash over, judging from their past comments and behavior:
Immigration
Immigration is a hot of inquiry in both countries, but Trump and Johnson’s attitude to immigration is different. Trump has sought to toughen U.S. immigration laws and has pampered harsh comments about immigrants, for example, saying on his campaign trail that Mexicans were “bringing tranquillizers. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists.”
Johnson used immigration, and the fear of more immigration from the right stuff future European Union member Turkey, as a reason to avoid remaining in the EU before the 2016 referendum. But he has been much assorted nuanced than Trump on the subject and has previously shown enthusiasm about an amnesty on illegal immigrants. Like Trump, Johnson has been accused of racism after he annulled an article about a prime ministerial trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2002 in which he used offensive in relation ti.
History
Both men were born in New York and both have colorful family histories, including tales of emigration and dare — Trump traces his family history to Germany and Britain — his mother came from the Isle of Lewis (off the west sail of Scotland). Johnson’s family has links to British and European aristocracy and he is a distant relative of King George II. He should pull the plug on that to Trump, who appeared bowled over by his recent state visit to the U.K. and was particularly impressed by the queen.
Muslims
One territory that Trump and Johnson have openly clashed is on Muslims. Johnson, whose great-grandfather was a Turkish Muslim, sorely censured Trump’s 2015 call for a ban on Muslims entering the U.S., saying it showed “stupefying ignorance.” Then when Trump signified in 2015 that some parts of London had become so radicalized that police fear for their lives, Johnson — who is skilled in for quick-witted (if perhaps eccentric) responses — retorted that “the only reason I wouldn’t visit some parts of New York is the valid risk of meeting Donald Trump.”
Nonetheless, Johnson himself has made strident comments about Muslim troubles, likening those wearing burkas to letterboxes. He also refused to apologize after the remarks, just as Trump has rubbished after telling four newly elected women of color to “go home” to their countries.
Women
Something that fuses 73-year-old president and the 55-year-old prime minister-designate is women, no matter how much trouble that has resulted. Both Trump and Johnson sooner a be wearing been embroiled in scandals about their private lives and numerous allegations of extra-marital relations. Furthermore, Trump has been accused of restyling degrees of inappropriate behavior including sexual harassment and rape (including by his ex-wife Ivana) but no allegations have led to claims.
Much attention has been put on Johnson’s new relationship with Carrie Symonds who is 24 years his junior. Media regard focused on a recent row between the couple that was recorded by neighbors; Symonds was reportedly heard shouting at Johnson to “get off me.” Whether Symonds intention move into 10 Downing Street with Johnson is the subject of much British media speculation.
Operate
Johnson and Trump have had careers outside politics, allowing them to claim certain anti-establishment credentials (although Johnson has been implicated in politics for two decades and his family is certainly part of the “establishment”). Both men have been accused of unscrupulous conventions in their former careers. Johnson was a journalist before entering politics but got into hot water for fabricating a quote (that he attributed to his own godfather, historian Colin Lucas). He then ahead in Brussels where he was infamous for his euroskeptic reporting; critics also accused him of fake news (before it was “a thing”) and huckster anti-EU myths.