The Fourth of July is always something of an ambivalent moment when it comes to the so-called “special relationship” between the US and the UK. For America, it’s a celebration of the birth of their nation. For Britain, the awkwardness is that they’re celebrating first cutting us off and then defeating us in a protracted military conflict.
Still, as his boss was trying and failing to hold a spectacular 250th birthday celebration for America -the musical acts cancelled, the speeches started late, the crowds didn’t show, and the whole thing was overshadowed by Taylor Swift’s wedding – Vice President JD Vance was trying to make nice with Britain.
“I have a special affection for Britain,” he told the Sunday Times in an interview. “If I’m being honest, I think, as much as I care about it for reasons of mutual interest – and American alliances – I also just care about it because Britain feels more culturally familiar to me than any country on Earth, aside from my own.”
Brits could be forgiven for thinking that Vance has a damn strange way of showing it. He had almost no connection whatsoever with the UK until he met his wife, who went to university here. Since then, he’s holidayed here often – including a stay in the Cotswolds last year. But he has hardly been a steadfast friend to Britain, to say the least.
