Once again, Brian and I are singing from the same hymn sheet – just as we did on the day after the Brexit referendum, the last UK General Election etc. Having  just received an email containing his gut feeling about the next four years in the US, I thought I should share it with you. (Feel free to compare it with this and this – pieces I produced independently in that last few days.)

BRIAN ENO:

I’m relieved at the election result but not ecstatic: 70 million people voted for Trump after probably the most disastrous four years in US history! That is mind-blowing to me. And the Republicans strengthened their grip on the levers of power: they’re in a better position now than they were a week ago. 

If I were a Republican strategist I’d be rubbing my hands with glee: NEXT time it’ll be a pushover. All they have to do is run a more acceptable neo-fascist, somebody smarter and hipper and not so obviously bonkers. Somebody like Charles Lindbergh, for example.

And if I were a Democrat strategist (though I’m starting to doubt they even exist) I’d be doing everything possible to covertly keep Trump afloat, tucked away safely in some corner with his own TV channel, but afloat nonetheless, and then encourage him to run again in 2024. Why? Because we need him to split the vote when the inevitable Lindbergh turns up.

None of the conditions that gave rise to Trump have changed, and nor will they in 4 compromised years with an administration whose primary aspiration seems to be ‘back to normal’. In 4 years the scenario will repeat, and Trump is currently our main hope for scuppering it.

Trump was the most effective President in history. Unfortunately the effects were nearly all bad, and Biden will get the blame for them as they work their way through the system. Then Lindbergh will appear to save the day.

So I hope I can count on a couple of quid from each of you for my ‘TRUMP 2024’ campaign…