Would Margaret Thatcher Have Supported Trump?
Introduction
There are numerous parallels between Donald Trump and former U.S. President Ronald Reagan. Both belong to the Republican Party, are charismatic, and hold very conservative views. Neither Reagan nor Trump possessed extensive political experience before assuming office, and both faced significant challenges: Reagan had to contend with the AIDS pandemic, resulting in thousands of deaths, while Trump had to navigate the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, leading to similar high fatality counts. These similarities raise the question: would Margaret Thatcher, with her staunch conservative ideology and unwavering principles, have supported Trump?
Leadership Characteristics and Political Beliefs
Thatcher and Reagan shared a commitment to preserving and advancing their respective political ideologies. Both were not afraid to take bold actions and were respected for their leadership and integrity. They also had a mutual understanding of the importance of intelligence and integrity in a leader. In a world where both leaders believed in firm and decisive action, Trump stood in stark contrast to them.
Thatcher and Reagan had a love-hate relationship with leaders who exhibited traits they considered distasteful, notably the bluster and arrogance displayed by Trump during his presidency. Reagan had once sent a clear message to Benito Mussolini, a figure not dissimilar to Trump. If we replace Mussolini with Trump, Thatcher’s reaction would likely have been the same - a firm and unequivocal rejection.
Thatcher's Potential Support for Trump
Assuming an alternative reality where Thatcher was eligible to vote in the United States, her support for Trump would be highly unlikely. During the 2016 Republican primaries, Thatcher would have dismissed Trump in favor of other more reliably conservative figures such as Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, whose intellect was closer to her own. She was more inclined to choose ideological alignment over personal likability.
However, in the 2016 and 2020 general elections, her perspective might have shifted. Given her ideological rootedness, Thatcher would have favored a candidate who aligned with her beliefs, even if she disliked the individual personally. In 2016, she might have supported Donald Trump, agreeing with his policies and rhetoric more than her personal disdain for him. Interestingly, in a real historical scenario, she endorsed Italy's Silvio Berlusconi, a figure similar to Trump in many ways, over candidates whom she found palatable but less ideologically compatible.
Highly Unlikely Support
The portrayal of Thatcher's hypothetical support for Trump as a joke is not far from the truth. Thatcher would have been utterly repulsed by Trump. His willingness to say what other right-wingers held in private and his disdain for political correctness would have disgusted her. Trump’s unapologetic and unfiltered nature, coupled with his lack of concern for his political career, would have been antithetical to Thatcher's principles.
Thatcher’s disdain for Trump extended beyond personal characteristics and preferences. She would have seen him as a threat to the principles she held dear, including integrity, intelligence, and consistent adherence to her political ideology. She would have viewed him as someone who sowed discord and undermined the very foundation of conservative principles.
Thatcher was a leader of unwavering principles and would have respected tragedy and integrity in others. She would have seen Trump as a politically motivated figure who lacked the same depth and commitment to the issues she held dear.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the likelihood of Margaret Thatcher supporting Donald Trump is incredibly low, even in alternative scenarios. Her steadfast commitment to conservative principles, intelligence, and the integrity of political leaders would have made such a support improbable. Thatcher would have despised Trump and would have seen him as someone who did not align with her vision of leadership.