Foreign Secretary David Lammy has dismissed his previous harsh criticism of Donald Trump, calling it “old news” and asserting that he can now find “common ground” with the incoming US president.
In an interview with the BBC’s Newscast podcast, Lammy, who had described Trump as a “tyrant” and “woman-hating” back in 2018, emphasized that his past remarks should not be viewed as an obstacle to diplomacy. The comments, which also included labeling Trump a “neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath” during his time as a backbench MP, were made before Lammy assumed the role of Foreign Secretary.
Lammy explained that while his past statements were made in a personal capacity, his current position requires a more pragmatic approach to diplomacy. “I think that what you say as a backbencher and what you do wearing the real duty of public office are two different things,” he said, adding that the UK must work with the US, particularly given the special relationship between the two countries.
He also reflected positively on Trump’s election campaign, calling it “very well run” and stating that he had “felt in his bones” a Trump presidency was likely. Despite his previous criticisms, Lammy said that he and Trump did not discuss the past comments during a dinner they shared in New York in September, describing the president-elect as “a very gracious host.”
Addressing potential concerns about trade relations, Lammy noted Trump’s support for the UK, particularly towards the Royal Family, and his love for Scotland. However, Lammy acknowledged that Trump’s proposals to increase tariffs on foreign goods could affect UK exports, including Scotch whisky, pharmaceuticals, and aerospace products. He stated that the UK would aim to ensure that such measures would not harm its long-term interests and that the US would understand the importance of protecting close allies.
On European defence spending, Lammy agreed with Trump’s criticism that European nations had not met their defence spending targets, calling for a clear commitment from European governments to increase military budgets.
Lammy also weighed in on the possibility of a state visit by Trump to the UK next year, describing it as a “tall order” due to the logistics involved but reaffirmed the UK’s desire to maintain strong relations with the US.
The interview comes as the UK government continues to assess the implications of Trump’s policies on the country’s diplomatic and economic ties with the United States.