The United Kingdom’s foreign secretary said he would not force out the British ambassador to the U.S. if he becomes prime minister.
Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt defended Ambassador Kim Darroch on Tuesday after President Trump lashed out at the diplomat for calling him “inept” and “incompetent” in leaked cables.
“The wacky Ambassador that the U.K. foisted upon the United States is not someone we are thrilled with, a very stupid guy,” Trump tweeted Tuesday. “I don’t know the Ambassador but have been told he is a pompous fool.”
In response to Trump, Hunt said “allies need to treat each other with respect” and called his comments “disrespectful.”
“Ambassadors are appointed by the UK government and if I become PM our Ambassador stays,” he wrote in a tweet to the president.
1/2 @realDonaldTrump 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 @SecPompeo and so do ours! You said the UK/US alliance was the greatest in history and I agree… https://t.co/hNeBWmyyVN
— Jeremy Hunt (@Jeremy_Hunt) July 9, 2019
2/2…but allies need to treat each other with respect as @theresa_may has always done with you. Ambassadors are appointed by the UK government and if I become PM our Ambassador stays.
— Jeremy Hunt (@Jeremy_Hunt) July 9, 2019
Darroch has been the U.K.’s top diplomat since January 2016 and was expected to leave Washington, D.C., at the end of the year, though his departure could be sped up given the controversy.
On Monday, Trump said his administration would no longer work with Darroch and the ambassador was reportedly disinvited from attending a dinner hosted by Trump and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to honor the emir of Qatar.
