Deputy PM Angela Rayner risks damaging UK-US relations after once labelling Donald Trump a ‘buffoon’
ANGELA Rayner has risked damaging relations with the US after labelling Donald Trump a “buffoon”.
The Deputy PM also said he has “no place in the White House”.
Last night Ms Rayner tried to put the comments behind her as she spoke with Vice President-elect JD Vance.
But they add to those made by Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who has been critical of the next US leader.
In a TV rant during the pandemic, Ms Rayner had questioned Covid measures taken by both UK and US governments.
She told ITV: “We’ve got the highest death rates in Europe and Trump is killing thousands of Americans by giving them duff advice and his macho, ‘I’m all right, I survived Covid’.
“He’s an absolute buffoon. He has no place in the White House. He’s an embarrassment.”
Ex-Foreign Office Minister Tobias Ellwood said last night: “America has voted to elect someone almost everyone has a strong view about. But we have a duty to work with America.”
Ms Rayner spoke to Mr Vance hours after Trump’s win.
She said: “We spoke about our plans for the future and how we build on the special relationship between our countries.”
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has demanded Sir Keir Starmer apologise after Mr Lammy called Trump a “Neo-Nazi sympathiser” in 2017.
But Cabinet Minister Pat McFadden insisted the special relationship was “much more important” than old remarks.