The British foreign secretary, David Lammy, has referred to his previous comments about the US president-elect, Donald Trump, as “old news.” Lammy mentioned that calling Trump “deluded, dishonest, xenophobic, narcissistic,” and a “neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath” should be considered outdated. The UK government, led by Keir Starmer, is working towards easing tensions with the incoming president, who has proposed raising tariffs on imports into the US, potentially impacting the UK economy.
During an appearance on BBC Newscast, Lammy was questioned about his past critical statements but chose to brush them off. He stated that it would be challenging to find any politician who had not made strong remarks about Trump. When asked if he had apologized for calling Trump a “neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath,” Lammy replied with a firm “not even vaguely.”
Similarly, the deputy prime minister, Angela Rayner, shared that she had a conversation with the vice-president-elect, JD Vance, expressing that it was a positive interaction. Rayner has previously criticized Trump, referring to him as an “absolute buffoon” for his response to the Covid crisis. She has been vocal about her disapproval of Trump, stating that he is unfit for the White House.
On the other hand, Vance had made controversial comments about the UK, suggesting that it could become an “Islamist country” under the new Labour government. This statement was met with opposition from Rayner, who dismissed Vance’s views as unfounded.
It is worth noting that Starmer had a meeting with Trump during a visit to New York in September, where they dined at Trump Tower alongside Lammy. Trump’s inauguration is scheduled for January 20th in Washington DC. The interactions between British officials and the incoming US administration reflect the complexities of international relations and the need for diplomacy despite past criticisms.
