© Jason Andrew for the FT
In leaked memos to the British Foreign Commonwealth Office, Britain’s ambassador to the United States said US President Donald Trump is “incompetent” and “inept”.
Leaked on Saturday, the memos show Sir Kim Darroch finding it unlikely for the White House to “ever look competent” under the New York billionaire, The Daily Mail reported.
“We don’t really believe this administration is going to become substantially more normal; less dysfunctional; less unpredictable; less faction driven; less diplomatically clumsy and inept,” Darroch wrote.
The British envoy also described the never ending conflicts inside the Trump administration as “knife fights”.
He has also predicted that Trump’s “career could end in disgrace”, suggesting that he might be under the influence of “dodgy Russians”.
The revelations came weeks after Trump paid a long-delayed state visit to Britain.
The British FCO argued that such comments do not necessarily reflect London’s stance, stressing that the envoys are expected to be honest.
“Their views are not necessarily the views of Ministers or indeed the government. But we pay them to be candid. Just as the US Ambassador here will send back his reading of Westminster politics and personalities,” the office said.
“Of course we would expect such advice to be handled by Ministers and civil servants in the right way and it’s important that our Ambassadors can offer their advice and for it remain confidential. Our team in Washington have strong relations with the White House and no doubt that these will withstand such mischievous behaviour,” the office added.
