The Brits in the US supporting Donald Trump this week

From Boris Johnson to Liz Truss, a host of familiar British faces have crossed the pond to show their support for Donald Trump at the Republican National Convention.

In brief…

• The Republican Party’s National Convention is taking place in Milwaukee this week.
• The event has involved Trump’s formal presidential nomination, his announcement of his running mate, and speeches from high-profile Republicans.
• It comes days after Trump was shot in Pennsylvania, prompting several British politicians and celebs to rush over to the event in a show of their support

Things may have quieted down in British politics after a hectic few weeks during the run up to general election.

But as the dust settles in the UK, things are heating up on the other side of the Atlantic.

Donald Trump headed to the Republican National Convention (RNC) to be formally nominated as the party’s presidential candidate just hours after a bullet skimmed his ear in an assassination attempt.

Now, a host of Brits feel they can’t miss out on the event. Even the disgraced comedian Russell Brand has been spotted.

Emily Maitlis who is in Milwaukee to cover the RNC for The News Agents this week, says: "There is a really distasteful thing going on, which is the RNC seems to be where former celebrities come to reinvigorate their fallen celebrity status."

So which ones have jetted over to show their support?

Liz Truss

Her tenure was shorter than the lifespan of a lettuce, but Liz Truss is still on the scene after her political demise in the UK. The former PM, who also lost her seat in the election two weeks ago, is now in Milwaukee to signal her support for Donald Trump.

She tweeted: “Great to be at @RNC in Milwaukee  seeing President Trump get nominated.

“The leadership the West needs.”

In an interview with Sky News, she said Joe Biden is a "weak president" that she wants “Donald Trump to win".

She added that the assassination attempt on Trump and his move to attend the RNC was  "reminiscent" of Margaret Thatcher, the former Tory Prime Minister who gave a party conference speech after the IRA bombed her hotel in Brighton back in the 1980s.

Maitlis, who has been trying to track Truss down for an interview, says jokingly: "I accosted everyone I can find and they look horrified when I ask them if they’re Liz Truss".

Maitlis explains: “It is quite confusing because she posted a picture of herself yesterday wearing a long, flowing red dress.

“And dare I say that everyone at the Republican Party who is female is wearing a lot of red and long flowing dresses.”

It also not the first time Truss has got involved in the goings on of the USA. Earlier this year, she spoke at the Conservative Political Action Conference, with right-wing Americans such as Steve Bannon in attendance.

Boris Johnson

He may have been forced to resign after a premiership plagued by scandal, but Boris Johnson has flown out to the US to meet Trump.

The ex-Prime also Minister addressed rows of unfilled seats in a hotel ballroom for a panel discussion about the UK and US elections, according to The Mirror.

Just a few dozen people out of the 50,000 in attendance came to see him speak at the Pfister hotel, the publication reports.

Maitlis says: "Boris Johnson spoke to an absolutely empty room. We couldn’t believe the pictures. We were expecting it to fill up until we understood that that was as full as the room was going to get."

Johnson has said it was “a miracle" that Trump survived that attempt on his life.

He added: “As we give thanks for his safety we are reminded once again of the tragic fragility of democracy in the face of violence and unreason.”

Nigel Farage

The Reform UK leader has made no secret of his admiration for Trump, with the Clacton MP announcing that he would fly out to the US to support his “friend” at the RNC.

He told GB News: “I’ll listen to his acceptance speech…I’ll do it not just as a friend, but I’ll do it because we have to stand up for democracy.”

Farage has previously spoken at Trump rallies during the former president’s 2016 White House campaign.

The Brexiteer told the BBC he was “upset” to learn of the shooting in Pennsylvania that nearly cost Trump his life, but that he was “pleased” to learn that his "friend got away with it".

Russell Brand

He's not a politician, but Maitlis says there is something telling about the disgraced Comedian accused of sexual assault attending the RNC.

Maitlis, who spotted Brand at the event, says: "It was unbelievable to see how much latitude and how much encouragement someone who has been accused of multiple sexual allegations will get in a place like this.

"I understand that the Met [police] are interviewing 25 separate women in terms of investigations into his alleged sexual abuse. None of that was discussed yesterday."

Listen to the latest episode of The News Agents here: “Full of cranks and weirdos” - inside the Republican National Convention

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