They show Boris Johnson privately told US diplomats Trump was “making America great again”. Also wild May-Trump conversations.
Thread with the quotes...
telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/09/0…
I’ll post them raw so you can read for yourself. Again, all of the below is ‘according to the notes’.
Enjoy...
(Context: August 29 2017. Foreign Office)
(Boris was Foreign Sec, Woody US ambo in UK)
Boris: “We were initially anxious about the US foreign policy but Trump has been doing fantastic stuff on Syria, North Korea, China, Afghanistan."
...
Boris: "America is back under Trump”
Woody: "We have to challenge the status quo and Trump is good at that”
...
Boris: “The president is making America great again”
[Yes that is Trump's 2016 slogan worn on the red hats]
No10 spokesman: “The PM is committed to the extremely important relationship between the UK and US and to enhancing the work we do together to ensure the prosperity and security of our citizens”
(Context: White House lunch with top advisers. Jan 27 2017 - very shortly after the inauguration)
This one is quite a long read out but, I think, worth sticking with...
[Talked about inauguration crowd, which led him to the Women's March and March for Life, which led him to abortion...]
[asked May if she was pro-life or pro-choice]
Trump: “Imagine some animal with tattoos raping your daughter and then she gets pregnant”
Trump, gesturing to Mike Pence: “He’s a really tough one on abortion”
Trump, on trade talks delayed till post-Brexit:
“That is so unfair, how can the EU limit you?"
May, on if other EU members would leave:
"No I don’t think so and we don’t want them to. It’s better for the EU to stick together but the EU does need reform.”
May: “Look, it’s Conservative Party politics”. (A UK adviser explained why Cameron had to call vote)
[Theresa May explained the Tory leadership process which led to her becoming PM]
Trump: “Oh, so you were drafted like in baseball. But really I think you were plotting this all along”.
Trump: “The guy from our side on trade would be Gary Cohn. That guy used to pay $175 million in taxes a year and now makes $170,000 a year. Incredible.”
Trump on N Ireland: “There’s such hatred there. I just don’t understand where it comes from.”
[May tried to explain, Trump started talking about Scotland and how Alex Salmond was a “loser”]
(Presumably a reference to recent terror attacks in French capital)
Trump: “Merkel will lose her next election”
May: “No I don’t think she will, she’s the best politician in Europe right now”
(Spoiler: May was right)
May: “You have to engage with Putin but beware. He only respects strength. You have to be tough.”
Trump: “I have to talk to this guy. He has a thousand nukes. This isn’t the Congo.”
March 2018. Sergei Skripal (Russian spy defected to UK) + daughter were poisoned with Novichok. A chemical attack on British soil.
May wanted nations to jointly expel Russian diplomats. She wanted Trump’s help. Big moment for her + UK-US relationship...
May: "We really need your leadership on this”
Trump: "No, I would rather follow than lead. Angela [Merkel] is doing nothing. She is feeding the beast. I have done stuff and the EU has to do something. We are paying for their defence."
May: “Three children fell ill after feeding ducks there”
Trump: “Yes, it’s horrible and disgusting”
May: “The US and the UK must stand together on this”
Trump: “No, all of us have to be together. Germany has to do something. You have to put together a coalition."
Eventually, Trump did actually expel Russian diplomats. 60, more than any nation. WashPost reported when he learned Germany expelled 4 he was... not impressed.
Multiple May / W House aides have denied she ever came close to tears on Trump calls. Said maybe voice cracking misinterpreted.
When people talk about Trump’s disinterest in traditional alliances, this call is what it means in practice. (After lots of lobbying he did expel)
:: Trump cancelled trip to UK at last minute / cancelled call with May
:: Boris claimed Trump was “increasingly popular” in UK. Etc.
(End)
telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/09/0…