Donald Trump’s campaign has lodged a formal complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), accusing the UK’s Labour Party of interfering in the upcoming US presidential election, reported the Guardian.
The complaint claims that Labour Party members have been sent to the United States to campaign for Trump’s opponent, Kamala Harris, in key battleground states, alleging that these efforts amount to illegal foreign interference.
The complaint was submitted following reports that Labour activists had travelled to the US to support Harris’s campaign.
The Trump team’s letter to the FEC highlights a social media post from Sofia Patel, Labour’s head of operations, which stated that nearly 100 current and former Labour staffers were headed to the US to assist the Harris campaign.
The post, which has since been deleted, mentioned providing housing for these volunteers.
While foreign nationals are allowed to volunteer in US elections, they are prohibited from being compensated or directing campaign activities.
Trump’s legal team drew a comparison to the American Revolution in their complaint, noting that British involvement in American affairs did not end well in the past. The letter also criticised the Labour Party for allegedly providing illegal foreign contributions to the Harris-Walz campaign.
However, Labour members are campaigning in the US in a personal capacity and not officially on behalf of the party.
The complaint also referred to a Washington Post article claiming that Labour officials had met with members of the Harris campaign. Figures named in the complaint include Matthew Doyle, Downing Street’s director of communications, and Morgan McSweeney, the prime minister’s chief of staff. These alleged meetings, the Trump campaign argued, amount to unlawful collaboration.
Republicans were quick to condemn the involvement of foreign nationals in US elections.
Far-right politician Marjorie Taylor Greene took to social media, asserting that foreign nationals should not participate in any capacity. Elon Musk also criticised the alleged actions but later deleted his post after realising that volunteering is not illegal under US election rules.
Trump’s campaign manager, Susie Wiles, stated that the Harris campaign was relying on foreign support because they lacked confidence in their ability to win the American vote.
Meanwhile, neither the Labour Party nor the Harris-Walz campaign has issued an official response to the complaint. Despite the accusations, there is no clear evidence that the Harris campaign was aware of any coordinated efforts from Labour members.
