I could not agree more with Jonathan Freedland (Trump is upending everything. The world’s leaders must tell the truth about what that means, 28 March). This ever-increasing threat to world stability from both Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin is obvious to all, and our leaders’ fear of addressing it head-on is palpable. Our prime minister must now show leadership and speak openly to the country about this threat.
We live in an era where free speech has been stifled. We are in fear of reprisal from a few rich and powerful people who appear to be able to act with impunity. The US has always been our ally, and there is no reason why this should not continue. The Senate and the American people must initially take the responsibility by rectifying their error in electing this dictatorial president. What happened to impeachment? Richard Nixon was removed for, by comparison, a minor misdemeanour. If the American people do not act, they will bear the burden of shame when this is over.
Royston Evans
Charlton, Wiltshire
• Maybe Keir Starmer should follow Mark Carney’s example. Canada’s historical links with the US are even closer than the UK’s, but this didn’t deter Carney from being forthright in his condemnation of the US president’s behaviour. Despite this – or perhaps even because of this – they had what Donald Trump described as “extremely productive talks”. Bullies generally respect people who stand up to them and have nothing but contempt for those who try to appease them.
Steve Bamford
Littlehampton, West Sussex
• The only way to respond to Trump is to target the two things that truly matter to him – his (alleged) wealth and his ego. Trump is reckless, transactional and untruthful, and creates uncertainty, because he has been allowed him to profit from this.
Put a 100% surcharge on any product or service made or provided by any company based in the US, or bearing an American brand name, that is sold anywhere in the UK, Europe, Canada or Mexico. Start with Boeing, Apple, Microsoft, Google, Meta, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, ExxonMobil, Chevron, Cisco Systems etc, and see how Trump and his 52% support base like it when the market capitalisation of these entities falls along with their pension fund valuations.
Tim Bourke
Rome, Italy
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