Boris Johnson calls Trump’s impeachment trial ‘confusion’

  • Boris Johnson described Donald Trump’s impeachment trial as a “mess” in an interview with CBS.
  • Johnson also suggested that Biden may have copied his slogan “Build better”.
  • “I think I say we use it first. And to be honest, I think we stole it from someone else …”
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UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Sunday described former US President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial as “confusion” and seemed to suggest that President Joe Biden copied his “Build better” slogan.

“The clear message we got from the proceedings in America is that after all the shuttles and all the confusion, American democracy is strong and the American constitution is strong and robust,” Johnson said in an interview with CBS’s Face the Nation, when asked what signal Trump’s acquittal on impeachment charges would send.

The prime minister’s message contrasted with that of Biden, who said that “this sad chapter in our history has reminded us that democracy is fragile”.

Johnson also joked that Biden may have borrowed his own slogan “Build Better” from him.

“I’m thrilled that President Biden also has a slogan, ‘Build better,'” said Johnson.

“I think I say we use it first. And, to be honest, I think we stole it from someone else before I started using it. But it’s the right slogan.”

Boris build biden

Boris Johnson and Joe Biden adopted identical slogans.

Getty


Relations between the new president and the prime minister had a difficult start. Biden last year described Johnson as a “physical and emotional clone” of Donald Trump and in October he threatened to deny a trade agreement with the United Kingdom and the United States if Johnson undermined the Good Friday Agreement.

Members of Biden’s campaign said there was still residual mistrust towards Johnson over his political style and perceived closeness to Trump.

But Johnson, the first European leader called by Biden after taking office, insisted on Sunday that Biden’s first steps on issues of climate change and foreign policy were “incredibly encouraging” for UK-US relations.

“There have been some important developments in the way that UK and US thinking has come together in recent weeks, and particularly on issues such as climate change, NATO, Iran, but above all, the ways in which the USA and the UK will work together to address the environmental challenge facing our planet, “he told CBS.

“So, I think some of the things that we are hearing now from the new American administration and the new White House are incredibly encouraging. And we want to work with the president on that.”

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