Donald Trump’s barnstorming victory offers huge opportunity for Brexit Britain and Theresa May

DONALD Trump’s “Brexit” presidential triumph was a stinging slap in the face for Hillary Clinton and the political elite who thought they ran America.

In Berlin and Brussels last night there were cries of “calamity” and “emergency” as the shock results came in from Washington.

“The self-destruction of the West continues,” screamed one newspaper.

But Europe’s crisis is an opportunity for Britain - and Theresa May seized it as one of the first to congratulate Mr Trump, wish him “good luck” and stress our Special Relationship” with America.

Trump is a fan of Britain and its open market. He has sunk his own cash into the country.

Donald Trump seen with his family at his election night rally in Manhattan, New York

In stark contrast, the President-elect supported Brexit in the referendum and promised Britain would be “treated fantastically” if we left.

Indeed it was Trump who put the word “Brexit” into the global dictionary as a definition of voter defiance.

Few in the USA had heard the word until it was popped into the tycoon’s mouth by Nigel Farage who was constantly at his side.

Trump promised “Brexit times ten”. His victory would be “Brexit plus, plus, plus”.

Now he has put wind in the sails of another insurgent, French populist Marine le Pen who threatens a “Frexit” earthquake next Spring. Like Trump, she is an outsider, written off as a potential President.

Victory in Paris would trigger convulsions in Germany where Angela Merkel faces an election backlash over mass immigration and in Holland where right wingers are on the rampage.

Marine Le Pen wants to follow Britain out of the EU. Defeat for Merkel would remove the lynchpin of EU political power.

The new White House incumbent has already warned EU leaders he will cut America’s contribution to Nato forces unless they cough up more cash for their own defence.

But while condemning other EU states for relying on America to come to its rescue, he respects Britain as one of the few countries which meets defence spending targets.

This is where Britain can be a crucial ally.

For all his bravado, Trump will be stunned by his new responsibilities as the 45th US President and leader of the free world.

He is untested as a politician and statesman and will need all the experienced friends he can get.

He would not be human if he did not pounce on a chance to strike up a valuable relationship with a tried and trusted ally – especially someone who speaks English.

Theresa May has the advantage as a new PM of starting with a clean diplomatic sheet.

But while predecessor David Cameron once described Tump's plan to ban Muslim immigration as "stupid", Mrs May has never uttered a serious word of criticism against the billionaire tycoon.

Unlike President Obama who barely concealed his distaste for Britain’s colonial record, Trump has invested millions of his own dollars here with two controversial new golf courses in Aberdeenshire.

SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon, who sacked him as a business ambassador for Scotland, had to eat her words yesterday and insist ties would remain “deep and enduring” under his presidency.

Mr Trump has caused alarm in Europe with his eagerness to talk to Russian leader Vladimir Putin, Syria, the Middle East and Ukraine.

It will be Theresa May’s task to rebuild once-indestructible ties between the UK and USA fractured by the Iraq War and sidelined during the Obama presidency.

Britain may no longer be a world power but the White House is filled with tributes to the UK including a presidential desk carved from the oak timbers of a British warship.

Until recently, a bust of wartime leader Sir Winston Churchill was kept on their desk. President Obama consigned it to an outside office.

Tory PM Margaret Thatcher developed a remarkable Special Relationship with successive American presidents, especially Ronald Reagan. Together they helped persuade Russia to “tear down” the Berlin Wall.

Many Tories are already hailing Theresa May as the new Iron Lady. The election of unpredictable Donald Trump as leader of the Free World gives her a golden opportunity to show her diplomatic skills.

We are huge asset to the USA, whoever is president. Our remarkable intelligence service and a place at the UN top table make Britain an important soft power on the world stage.

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