Trump’s Twitter tirade another sign of his maverick style
Donald Trump has launched a social media onslaught against Theresa May and the UK’s ambassador to Washington after a leak of sensitive diplomatic messages describing his White House as “inept”.
Over the course of two days, the US president has fired off a series of Twitter messages describing ambassador Sir Kim Darroch as “wacky” and “pompous” and the Prime Minister’s conduct of Brexit as “foolish” and a “disaster”.
…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
In an extraordinary intervention in the domestic politics of an ally, he also said it was “good news” that the UK would soon have a new prime minister.
….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
Mr Trump said British diplomat Sir Kim was “not liked or well thought of within the US”, adding that the White House “will no longer deal with him”.
The Prime Minister is just the latest target of the president’s ire on social media, which has also included the NHS and the mayor of London.
Here is a look at some of Mr Trump’s past social media opinions on Britain:
– Before his inauguration as president, Mr Trump already had strong opinions on the UK’s man in Washington – suggesting that Nigel Farage would do a “great job” as ambassador in place of Sir Kim.
Many people would like to see @Nigel_Farage represent Great Britain as their Ambassador to the United States. He would do a great job!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 22, 2016
– After taking office, the special relationship with Mrs May began strongly, when in January 2017 she became the first world leader to meet him following his inauguration.
But months later he branded Mrs May as “very angry” when she rebuked him after intelligence shared with the US in the wake of the Manchester terror attack was leaked to American media.
British Prime Minister May was very angry that the info the U.K. gave to U.S. about Manchester was leaked. Gave me full details!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 28, 2017
The leaks prompted British police to temporarily suspend sharing information across the Atlantic.
– After the London Bridge terror attack in June 2017, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said people should not be alarmed by visibly increased security on the streets of the capital.
Mr Trump sparked a backlash when he tweeted: “At least 7 dead and 48 wounded in terror attack and Mayor of London says there is “no reason to be alarmed!”
At least 7 dead and 48 wounded in terror attack and Mayor of London says there is "no reason to be alarmed!"
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 4, 2017
A spokesman for Mr Khan said the tweet was “ill-informed” and that Mr Trump had deliberately taken the comments out of context. Mrs May also criticised her American counterpart.
– In September 2017, Mrs May delivered a rebuke to the US president after he claimed the Parsons Green Tube bomber was “in the sights” of Scotland Yard. The Prime Minister said: “I never think it’s helpful for anybody to speculate on what is an ongoing investigation.”
Another attack in London by a loser terrorist.These are sick and demented people who were in the sights of Scotland Yard. Must be proactive!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 15, 2017
– Downing Street and the White House fell out in November 2017 after the president shared an anti-Muslim video posted online by far-right group Britain First.
In response to a rebuke from Number 10, Mr Trump told the Prime Minister “don’t focus on me, focus on the destructive radical Islamic terrorism that is taking place within the United Kingdom”.
.@Theresa_May, don’t focus on me, focus on the destructive Radical Islamic Terrorism that is taking place within the United Kingdom. We are doing just fine!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 30, 2017
He later said he was prepared to apologise for re-tweeting the videos, admitting that he had known nothing about Britain First when he posted online.
– In February 2018, Mr Trump used the NHS as an example of why universal healthcare should not reach US shores, claiming the health service was “going broke and not working”.
The Democrats are pushing for Universal HealthCare while thousands of people are marching in the UK because their U system is going broke and not working. Dems want to greatly raise taxes for really bad and non-personal medical care. No thanks!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 5, 2018
– Mr Trump again took issue with Mr Khan in May as a “stone cold loser”, adding that the mayor of London should focus on addressing crime.
….Kahn reminds me very much of our very dumb and incompetent Mayor of NYC, de Blasio, who has also done a terrible job – only half his height. In any event, I look forward to being a great friend to the United Kingdom, and am looking very much forward to my visit. Landing now!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 3, 2019
Mr Khan has described Mr Trump as a “poster boy for racists” and remarked that the president appears “obsessed” with him.