In a groundbreaking three-part documentary series, Channel 4 goes behind the scenes at the US Embassy in London, with unprecedented access.
Filmed over a nine month period, this three-part series gives unprecedented access into the world-renowned United States Embassy in London. With a new Ambassador in place, the major relocation to a new Embassy site, and an effort to strengthen and expand the ‘special relationship’ in the time of Brexit, Field Day Productions goes behind closed doors with America’s top level diplomats to experience first-hand diplomacy in the age of Trump.
The U.S. Mission represents the Office of the President of the United States and protects the welfare of its citizens abroad, promotes its business interests and fosters cultural connections. With 4,000 visa requests every week, the Embassy’s Consular Section also manages applications from would-be visitors to the United States.
Each episode explores a different element of this extraordinary operation.
Episode 1 – Trump’s Man in Britain
In part 1, we meet close, personal friend of Donald Trump and billionaire businessman, Woody Johnson, the new U.S. Ambassador to the UK. Johnson is on a mission from the President and has a message for the people of the UK to make the most of Brexit. Following the Ambassador’s first six months in office, episode 1 offers an unrivalled insight into the Embassy as it makes its historic move from Grosvenor Square to Vauxhall. An unexpected public affairs challenge sees the Ambassador and his press team deal with the fallout from some of Donald Trump’s more controversial policies and inflammatory tweets, including an attack on Theresa May for criticising his retweet of a far right video.
Episode 2 – Trump’s UK Border
The consular section of the American Embassy is the first line of defence for Trump’s America. Each day over 800 visa applicants are interviewed and judged as to who can and can’t enter the USA
Consular staff are followed as President Trump’s controversial travel ban comes into force. This was the executive order that halted all refugee admissions and temporarily barred people from seven Muslim-majority countries.
At this time of heightened scrutiny, consular staff must sort through the Florida’s sun seekers and business people to spot the would be economic migrants, terrorists, money launderers, and former criminals, all trying to convince the person behind the window that they should be allowed in.
Episode 3 –Guns, Diplomacy and Chlorinated Chicken
At the American Embassy in London, top officials are followed to capture the impact of Trump’s America First approach to diplomacy. Trump-appointed Ambassador Woody Johnson challenges his staff on how they are tackling Brexit and questions if the multi-billion pound deal to sell US fighter planes for Britain’s new aircraft carrier, the Queen Elizabeth, is a great deal for America. The administration is fighting trade wars on several different fronts and the new Trump appointed Under Secretary of Agriculture, Ted McKinney, pushes for Britain to open its doors to American chlorinated chicken. There is a unique look at the inner workings of the special relationship through the eyes of the embassy’s top general, as Britain and America prepare for joint air strikes to Syria and as the ambassador lobbies for the UK to spend more on defence.