British Foreign Secretary Blasts Trump As ‘Disrespectful And Wrong’ As Spat Over UK Envoy Deepens
British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt lashed out at US President Donald Trump on Tuesday, describing his public criticism of the UK ambassador to the US as “disrespectful and wrong.”
In a series of Tuesday morning tweets, Trump branded Kim Darroch as a “wacky” and “very stupid guy” after the British envoy criticized Trump in diplomatic cables that were leaked to the Daily Mail over the weekend.
Trump also took aim at Theresa May, describing the Prime Minister’s handling of Brexit as “a disaster!”
Hunt, who is currently running to replace May as prime minister, responded by saying he would keep Darroch in post if he became Britain’s leader, and suggesting that Trump’s comments were hypocritical.
“Friends speak frankly so I will: these comments are disrespectful and wrong to our Prime Minister and my country. Your diplomats give their private opinions to [Secretary of State Mike Pompeo] and so do ours!” Hunt tweeted Tuesday.
Hunt’s defense of Darroch came amid growing speculation around whether the ambassador can remain in his position if the White House freezes him out.
The deepening diplomatic crisis began over the weekend, when the Daily Mail published a series of cables sent from Darroch back to London.
In the messages, Darroch called Trump “inept,” “insecure,” and “incompetent.” He said the President’s career could “end in disgrace” and even said of alleged collusion with Russia that “the worst cannot be ruled out.”
