President Donald Trump said on Monday that he “will no longer deal with” the United States High Commissioner whose private diplomatic cables critical of the American president were leaked to the press over the weekend.
In a sequence of diplomatic cables released by the Daily Mail on Sunday, Kim Darroch, British top diplomat in Washington since 2016, assaulted Mr Trump as “incompetent” and “headed to a disgraceful end.”
Mr Darroch sent cables and briefing notes to his bosses back at the London Foreign Office between 2017 and this month, the newspaper revealed.
He chastised Mr Trump’s government as “uniquely dysfunctional” and one frequently engages in “knife battles,” warning that the administration might end in “disgrace.”
The Foreign Office did not dispute the memos ‘ accuracy but said they were nothing unusual as all countries expect their ambassadors to provide an honest evaluation of the scenario in their host nations.
The department also said that the messages from Mr Darroch were his private views and do not necessarily reflect the UK government’s stance and policies.
Mr Trump hit both Mr Darroch and his boss, Prime Minister Theresa May, in a couple of tweets on Monday, stating they had made Brexit a mess.
I have been very critical about the way the U.K. and Prime Minister Theresa May handled Brexit. What a mess she and her representatives have created. I told her how it should be done, but she decided to go another way. I do not know the Ambassador, but he is not liked or well….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 8, 2019
….thought of within the U.S. We will no longer deal with him. The good news for the wonderful United Kingdom is that they will soon have a new Prime Minister. While I thoroughly enjoyed the magnificent State Visit last month, it was the Queen who I was most impressed with!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 8, 2019
The wacky Ambassador that the U.K. foisted upon the United States is not someone we are thrilled with, a very stupid guy. He should speak to his country, and Prime Minister May, about their failed Brexit negotiation, and not be upset with my criticism of how badly it was…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 9, 2019
…handled. I told @theresa_may how to do that deal, but she went her own foolish way-was unable to get it done. A disaster! I don’t know the Ambassador but have been told he is a pompous fool. Tell him the USA now has the best Economy & Military anywhere in the World, by far…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 9, 2019
While expressing his delight that the UK will soon have a new prime minister, Mr Trump said he did not know Mr Darroch, belittling the diplomat “not liked or well thought of” in Washington. He also said the U.S. would no longer work with him.
Still, the U.S. president complimented Britain as “wonderful” and said he was “most impressed” with Queen Elizabeth during his state visit early last month.
American media also reported on Monday that the White House has revoked an invitation to Mr Darroch for a reception with the Emir of Qatar.
The leak has been widely seen as particularly ill-timed for the UK, coming as the country eyes a post-Brexit special trade deal with the U.S., should it ultimately leave the European Union.
The active deadline for Brexit is October 31.
