Foreign Secretary David Lammy has repeatedly criticised Donald Trump, previously describing the U.S. President-Elect as “deluded, dishonest, xenophobic, narcissistic”. The Telegraph has compiled a full list of his diplomatic blunders that now threaten to undermine the U.K.’s national interest in its dealings with the world’s most powerful country. Here’s a sample.
In February 2017, Mr. Lammy, the Tottenham MP, said he was “ashamed” that the Tory Government had invited the then President Trump to the U.K. for a state visit.
Speaking in a Westminster Hall debate, he said: “Is this great country so desperate for a trade deal that we would throw all of our own history out of the window? We did not do it for Kennedy, Truman or Reagan, but to this man we say ‘please come and we will lay on everything because we are so desperate for your company’.
“I think this country is greater than that. I think my children deserve better than that. I think my daughter deserves better than that. I am ashamed, frankly, that it has come to this.” …
Mr. Trump eventually declined the invitation in June 2017 because of British public anger at the proposed visit. …
Mr. Lammy had been highly critical of Mr. Trump during a meeting on the fringes of the 2017 Labour Party conference in Brighton, condemning him over his handling of the march of far-Right and white-nationalist groups in August that year in Charlottesville, which saw one person killed.
In comments reported at the time by the Daily Mail, he said that he would protest against Mr. Trump coming to the U.K., adding: “If I have to chain myself to the door of No. 10 this black man will do it.” …
In 2018, Mr Lammy slammed Mr. Trump for cancelling a visit to a U.S. war cemetery in France to mark the centenary of Armistice Day because of bad weather. Mr. Trump also received a backlash from U.S. voters and politicians over the decision.
The Foreign Secretary warned against “alienating our neighbours in Europe” and falling “into the tiny palm of America’s wannabe despot”. …
Mocking France for the bloodiest wars our continent has ever witnessed is grotesque, even for Trump.
We should remember that by alienating our neighbours in Europe, we fall into the tiny palm of America’s wannabe despot. To continue on this path would be a tragic mistake. https://t.co/LlTgWatCXm
Mr. Lammy urged Mrs May to rethink the renewed invitation, writing: “Deluded, dishonest, xenophobic, narcissistic, Donald Trump is no friend of Britain. He is not fit to hold public office, let alone worthy of our country’s highest honours and a banquet with the Queen. Theresa May is selling out the U.K. to a serial liar and a cheat.”
Deluded, dishonest, xenophobic, narcissistic, Donald Trump is no friend of Britain. He is not fit to hold public office, let alone worthy of our country's highest honours and a banquet with the Queen. Theresa May is selling out the UK to a serial liar and a cheat. #TrumpUKVisithttps://t.co/2onIyKU8ZO
Mr. Lammy shared an interview conducted with PoliticsJoe, the news site, at a protest against Mr. Trump’s U.K. visit.
He praised the protesters having “stuck two fingers up” to Mr. Trump, and having “put balloons up”, in apparent reference to the “Trump baby” inflatable used at the march.
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