Donald Trump attacks UK’s Theresa May, ambassador over leaked memo

Donald Trump has slammed the UK ambassador to the US as a “very stupid guy”, despite admitting he has never met him, and called Theresa May “foolish”.

US President Donald Trump has called the British ambassador to the United States “a very stupid guy,” one day after declaring he would cut contact with the diplomat following a leak of cables describing Mr Trump as “inept.”

The series of tweets came hours after Prime Minister Theresa May stood by Kim Darroch amid the controversy over the release of the documents published in the Mail on Sunday newspaper.

“The wacky Ambassador that the UK foisted upon the United States is not someone we are thrilled with, a very stupid guy,” Mr Trump wrote in a series of tweets. “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 handled.”

US President Donald Trump. Picture: AP

British Ambassador Kim Darroch. Picture: AFP

Mr Darroch’s forthright views — meant for consumption behind closed doors — have caused embarrassment between two countries who often celebrate having a “special relationship.”

“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 and they are both only getting bigger, better and stronger … Thank you, Mr. President!”

UK Prime Minister Theresa May and US President Donald Trump during a visit to 10 Downing Street in June. Picture: Getty

Mr Trump also doubled down in attacking British Prime Minister Theresa May regarding Brexit, saying she “went her own foolish way — was unable to get it done. A disaster!”

In the memos, Mr Darroch, who has served as Britain’s envoy to Washington since 2016, suggested that in order to communicate with the president, “you need to make your points simple, even blunt.”

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

....and they are both only getting bigger, better and stronger.....Thank you, Mr. President!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 9, 2019

In the leaked documents he called the Trump administration’s policy toward Iran “incoherent,” said the president might be indebted to “dodgy Russians” and raised doubts about whether the White House “will ever look competent.”

An investigation is underway over the major breach of diplomatic security.

The tweets, together with a similar barrage on Monday, will serve to ratchet up pressure on Britain’s government over Mr Darroch, who also has been accused by some Brexit-backing UK politicians of lacking enthusiasm for Britain’s departure from the European Union.

Donald Trump and Nigel Farage. Picture: Supplied

The journalist who reported the leak, Isabel Oakeshott, is a strong Brexit backer and an ally of Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage, who also is Britain’s leading champion of Mr Trump.

Mr Trump has been supportive of Mr Farage and once said he would “do a great job” as an ambassador to Washington.

Mr Farage sidestepped that notion on Monday, saying “I’m not a diplomat.”

While British officials hunted for the culprit behind the leak, senior Conservative Party figure and former Foreign Secretary William Hague said the government was right to back Mr Darroch.

“You can’t change an ambassador at the demand of a host country,” Mr Hague told the BBC. “It is their job to give an honest assessment of what is happening in that country.”