Opposites attract: Theresa meets Trump

Yesterday Theresa May landed in America for what is Donald Trump’s first meeting with a foreign leader. They are two very different leaders with very different upbringings, and very different styles of engaging with the public. In light of this, questions have been asked as to how their relationship will develop. How will the level headed daughter of a vicar, who prides herself on being a ‘safe pair of hands’, fare against the unpredictability of the new president?

The two leaders’ different styles are typified by their social media presence. Whereas Trump uses Twitter to bait his enemies, discuss policy and announce his cabinet, May’s last Tweet was ten days ago and is a clip from her Brexit speech. She very rarely, if ever, personally tweets, and seems to view social media as a necessary evil rather than embracing it as Trump has.  His recent tweets to the President of Mexico demanding payment for his infamous wall attracted the wrath of the former president of Mexico, Vincente Fox. He’s also bemoaned the women’s march and mocked Arnold Schwarzenegger for his ratings as host of The Apprentice.

@realDonaldTrump's ego monument real cost is around 25 billion USD. I ask you, America, what would you prefer instead of that #FuckingWall?

— Vicente Fox Quesada (@VicenteFoxQue) January 26, 2017

Watched protests yesterday but was under the impression that we just had an election! Why didn't these people vote? Celebs hurt cause badly.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 22, 2017

Wow, the ratings are in and Arnold Schwarzenegger got "swamped" (or destroyed) by comparison to the ratings machine, DJT. So much for….

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2017

May is on a charm offensive, arguing that “sometimes, opposites attract” as she attempts to forge a relationship with arguably the most controversial president in recent history. She has already tried to build bridges at the annual Republican retreat, drawing on their ‘shared values’ as conservatives – will she be taking advice from Trump on social media as well?