No amount of wishful thinking, outrage, marches or demands for recounts could overturn the result of the American election, even if nearly 3 million more people did vote for Hilary Clinton. But, inevitable though it was that Trump would eventually take office after the results three months ago, there need not be anything inevitable about how our own Government should respond to him.

Sitting thousands of miles away in the UK, I watched with a sense of powerlessness as the man who wished to ban members of my own faith from entering the United States took office. And alarmingly, I’ve now witnessed politicians in the UK fall over themselves to put whatever hateful views Trump had behind them and carry on as though they would with any other incumbent of the White House.

It shouldn’t and can’t be business as usual. There is no precedent for the man our politicians hope to continue a “special relationship” with, even if it is unrequited and Trump wishes to put only “America first”. For those hoping that assuming office would somehow magically alter Trump’s mindset, his inauguration speech was further proof that he in no way intends to heal divisions or embrace a vision of tolerance and inclusiveness.

If the government and MP’s think that they can preach about the importance of tolerance, liberalism and the importance of social cohesion at home while conveniently ignoring Trump’s record, they are deluding themselves. The two cannot be separated, however much we are told that we must respect the American president out of necessity, even if that necessity is given added impetus over the need for a trade deal following Brexit.

Theresa May confirms upcoming meeting with President Trump

Maybe Theresa May should heed her own warnings with the European Union that “no deal is better than a bad deal” when dealing with Trump.

To me, watching people like Boris Johnson respond positively to Trump means that my own Government is not only happy to do business with a man that called for members of my faith to have their places of worship put under surveillance and to establish national registers for them, but is also more than happy to brush aside such issues for the sake of other competing priorities. Yet I'm expected to follow the advice of the same Government when it comes to integration and social cohesion at home.

As a Muslim, for years I’ve seen my own community held responsible for terrorist acts and told to apologise, integrate and “change from within”. To be told that Muslim communities must do more to integrate and subscribe to British values of tolerance and mutual respect for those who are different while watching Gove gleefully brush over Trump’s inconsistencies upon interviewing him, focusing instead on whether we’re “at the front of the queue” for a trade deal, only adds to that sense of disbelief. Never mind Trump’s disgraceful views, never mind that British Muslims could be barred from travelling to America: all that matters is that we're at the front of the queue.

Boris Johnson went further than just asking for a trade deal but instead “hoped for a strong bond”. Theresa May simply congratulated him on his victory without any criticism whatsoever of his remarks. Thankfully Angela Merkel showed Theresa May how it should be done. Trump wouldn't and shouldn't given a blank cheque; instead, he was offered cooperation on the basis of shared values by Germany.

Donald Trump's most controversial quotes Show all 14 1 /14 Donald Trump's most controversial quotes Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Isis: "Some of the candidates, they went in and didn’t know the air conditioner didn’t work and sweated like dogs, and they didn’t know the room was too big because they didn’t have anybody there. How are they going to beat ISIS?" Getty Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On immigration: "I will build a great wall — and nobody builds walls better than me, believe me —and I’ll build them very inexpensively. I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will make Mexico pay for that wall. Mark my words." Reuters Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Free Trade: "Free trade is terrible. Free trade can be wonderful if you have smart people. But we have stupid people." PAUL J. RICHARDS | AFP | Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Mexicans: "When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re sending people that have lots of problems. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists." Getty Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On China: "I just sold an apartment for $15 million to somebody from China. Am I supposed to dislike them?... I love China. The biggest bank in the world is from China. You know where their United States headquarters is located? In this building, in Trump Tower." Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On work: "If you're interested in 'balancing' work and pleasure, stop trying to balance them. Instead make your work more pleasurable." AP Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On success: "What separates the winners from the losers is how a person reacts to each new twist of fate." Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On life: "Everything in life is luck." AFP Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On ambition: "You have to think anyway, so why not think big?" Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On his opponents: "Bush is totally in favour of Common Core. I don't see how he can possibly get the nomination. He's weak on immigration. He's in favour of Common Core. How the hell can you vote for this guy? You just can't do it." Reuters Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Obamacare: "You have to be hit by a tractor, literally, a tractor, to use it, because the deductibles are so high. It's virtually useless. And remember the $5 billion web site?... I have so many web sites, I have them all over the place. I hire people, they do a web site. It costs me $3." Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Barack Obama: "Obama is going to be out playing golf. He might be on one of my courses. I would invite him. I have the best courses in the world. I have one right next to the White House." PA Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On himself: "Love him or hate him, Trump is a man who is certain about what he wants and sets out to get it, no holds barred. Women find his power almost as much of a turn-on as his money." Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On America: "The American Dream is dead. But if I get elected president I will bring it back bigger and better and stronger than ever before and we will make America great again." GETTY

As Theresa May was pressed on whether she would challenge the comments made by Trump on women and minorities during her forthcoming meeting with him, she claimed the talks would focus on more “pressing global issues”. Never mind the fact that 2 million people across the world over the weekend marched and protested against him. Clearly, for our Prime Minister, that movement was not global enough.