POLITICAL MOVEMENTS
ED BALLS HEADS STATESIDE TO MEET THE PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR DONALD TRUMP…
Around the same time that former Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls was getting spray-tanned and sequinned on Strictly Come Dancing in 2016, former The Apprentice USA host Donald Trump was running for the White House. In this new three-part series, Ed heads to America’s Deep South – the heartland of Donald Trump’s support – to find out why the everyday Americans voted a business tycoon to be their President...
What were you thinking during Strictly when Trump was running his campaign?
I didn’t think he’d win. It was a pretty big surprise to him as well – I don’t think he and Melania ever thought they would be going into the White House! Obviously I am much less surprised now than I was at the time – having spent all this time there, you can see just how it happened.
What did you think of Trump’s campaign?
I don’t admire him, because I think in the end it was dangerous and divisive and manipulative. However, as a piece of communication, I think it’s brilliant – this northeast multi-millionaire, a rich and privileged guy, persuades working-class guys in Alabama that he’s one of them – that’s an amazing feat. To make himself so much the outsider, when he’s been an insider for all those years is incredible, but I think it’s obviously dangerous for the world.
What sort of reaction did you get as a British politician in America?
In the second episode, I’m driving along with Ryan, the
police deputy, and he turns to me and says, “Did you really tweet your own name?” When the production guys are meeting people, they say, “This guy’s making a television programme, he’s a politician in Britain, a former cabinet minister” – then they go on Google and do a search and what comes up is not what they necessarily expect!