David Lammy defends his comments over Donald Trump (Image: Getty)
David Lammy insisted his controversial comments about Donald Trump are “old news" - but later issued a warning over trade tariffs.
The Foreign Secretary dodged fears his opinions, aired publicly in 2018, on the President-elect could harm UK/US relations.
DON'T MISS
Powered by
Nigel Farage issues brutal Trump demand to Keir Starmer after huge win
5 Comments
Former MI6 chief reveals how Donald Trump could handle Russia, Iran and Europe
142 Comments
Donald Trump win means Keir Starmer needs Nigel Farage whether he likes it or not
104 Comments
Wes Streeting squirms as he comes under fire over unearthed Donald Trump tweet
257 Comments
Ex-Reform chief warns Donald Trump is about to infuriate Keir Starmer and the EU
56 Comments
Carol Vorderman branded 'deluded' as she unleashes fury after Trump win
605 Comments
Keir Starmer's right-hand man refuses 3 times to deny Donald Trump has Nazi sympathies
278 Comments
TRUMP v HARRIS - who will benefit the UK more?
213 Comments
The five ways Donald Trump and Keir Starmer will butt heads in new nightmare for Labour
454 Comments
Keir Starmer warned 'problem won't go away' after ally's 'incredibly embarrassing' blunder
34 Comments
Nigel Farage's tip for US ambassador role is the last person you'd expect
169 Comments
Starmer warned Trump charm offensive at risk after Lammy and Streeting's 'childish slurs'
898 Comments
Donald Trump's astonishing net worth dwarfs King Charles and Prince William's
5 Comments
Britain must be braced for fallout from US election... whichever candidate wins
45 Comments
Sorry Donald! The 6 Labour giants who will be regretting these brutal words on Trump
150 Comments
Labour minister left completely tongue-tied as Question Time's Fiona Bruce skewers her
34 Comments
What Keir Starmer should be thinking about after Donald Trump's US election win
20 Comments
Why Donald Trump's win could hurt Britain - and who's to blame if it does
152 Comments
PM facing the reality of working with new President after his cabinet trashed Trump
35 Comments
EU facing huge crisis as US urged to 'withhold' forces from Europe to fight China
93 Comments
Nigel Farage issues brutal Trump demand to Keir Starmer after huge win
5 Comments
Former MI6 chief reveals how Donald Trump could handle Russia, Iran and Europe
142 Comments
Donald Trump win means Keir Starmer needs Nigel Farage whether he likes it or not
104 Comments
Wes Streeting squirms as he comes under fire over unearthed Donald Trump tweet
257 Comments
Ex-Reform chief warns Donald Trump is about to infuriate Keir Starmer and the EU
56 Comments
Carol Vorderman branded 'deluded' as she unleashes fury after Trump win
605 Comments
Keir Starmer's right-hand man refuses 3 times to deny Donald Trump has Nazi sympathies
278 Comments
TRUMP v HARRIS - who will benefit the UK more?
213 Comments
The five ways Donald Trump and Keir Starmer will butt heads in new nightmare for Labour
454 Comments
Keir Starmer warned 'problem won't go away' after ally's 'incredibly embarrassing' blunder
34 Comments
Nigel Farage's tip for US ambassador role is the last person you'd expect
169 Comments
Starmer warned Trump charm offensive at risk after Lammy and Streeting's 'childish slurs'
898 Comments
Donald Trump's astonishing net worth dwarfs King Charles and Prince William's
5 Comments
Britain must be braced for fallout from US election... whichever candidate wins
45 Comments
Sorry Donald! The 6 Labour giants who will be regretting these brutal words on Trump
150 Comments
Labour minister left completely tongue-tied as Question Time's Fiona Bruce skewers her
34 Comments
What Keir Starmer should be thinking about after Donald Trump's US election win
20 Comments
Why Donald Trump's win could hurt Britain - and who's to blame if it does
152 Comments
PM facing the reality of working with new President after his cabinet trashed Trump
35 Comments
EU facing huge crisis as US urged to 'withhold' forces from Europe to fight China
93 Comments
Nigel Farage issues brutal Trump demand to Keir Starmer after huge win
5 Comments
Former MI6 chief reveals how Donald Trump could handle Russia, Iran and Europe
142 Comments
Donald Trump win means Keir Starmer needs Nigel Farage whether he likes it or not
104 Comments
Wes Streeting squirms as he comes under fire over unearthed Donald Trump tweet
257 Comments
Ex-Reform chief warns Donald Trump is about to infuriate Keir Starmer and the EU
56 Comments
Carol Vorderman branded 'deluded' as she unleashes fury after Trump win
605 Comments
Keir Starmer's right-hand man refuses 3 times to deny Donald Trump has Nazi sympathies
278 Comments
Mr Lammy called Mr Trump a “woman-hating, neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath” who is “a profound threat to the international order”.
But the Labour Cabinet minister insisted the comments did not come up during a dinner in September, adding that politicians say different things when they are on the backbenches compared to serving in the Government.
Donald Trump has won the US election (Image: Getty)
He told BBC’s Newscast: “This is old news. In that period, particularly with people on Twitter, lots of things were said about Donald Trump.
“I found him to be a very gracious host.
“He did offer me a second portion of chicken. He was very generous, very gracious, very keen to make sure that we felt relaxed and comfortable in his surroundings.
“He was funny. He was warm about the UK. Very warm about the Royal Family. I've got to tell you, loves Scotland.”
Challenged over the comments, again, Mr Lammy told the BBC: “He didn't seem to think it mattered a few weeks ago.
“The truth is, when you're doing this job, you understand the extent and breadth of the US UK relationship.
“There are 11,000 troops, US troops in this country.
“There are tens of thousands of U.S. troops across Europe.
“We have the closest of intelligence capabilities, the best in the world on demonstration before the Ukraine war and working effectively to keep the skies safe over Israel just a few weeks ago.
“So anyone who heads up America or indeed our country understands that.
“He understands that, because he's done the job of being President before. And in the end, he's finding common ground, just as I'm finding common ground. You don't get to be a senior politician in our country unless you can find common ground.”
In an article in Time magazine in 2018, Mr Lammy wrote: "Trump is not only a woman-hating, neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath.
"He is also a profound threat to the international order that has been the foundation of Western progress for so long.
"It is because I cherish and champion those values that this Friday, I will march with London against Donald Trump."
Trending
SUBSCRIBE Invalid email
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
Health Secretary Wes Streeting previously called the president-elect an “odious, sad little man” and Environment Secretary Ed Miliband called him a “racist, misogynistic self-confessed groper”.
But Mr Lammy insisted: “Look, I think that what you say as a backbencher and what you do wearing the real duty of public office are two different things. And I am Foreign Secretary. There are things I know now that I didn't know back then, and that's the truth of it.”
But Mr Lammy has already signalled he is willing to stand up to Washington over tariffs.
The President-elect wants to increase tariffs on goods imported from around the world by at least 10 per cent, rising to 60 per cent on goods from China.
And Mr Lammy said he will challenge the US over the move.
He said: “Well, you probably know that when the Biden administration pursued their Inflation Reduction Act and indeed their Chips Act and the UK and other partners were cut out of that or were not engaged in that, there was some criticism both publicly and privately about that.
DON'T MISS
Powered by
Nigel Farage issues brutal Trump demand to Keir Starmer after huge win
5 Comments
Former MI6 chief reveals how Donald Trump could handle Russia, Iran and Europe
142 Comments
Donald Trump win means Keir Starmer needs Nigel Farage whether he likes it or not
104 Comments
Wes Streeting squirms as he comes under fire over unearthed Donald Trump tweet
257 Comments
Ex-Reform chief warns Donald Trump is about to infuriate Keir Starmer and the EU
56 Comments
Carol Vorderman branded 'deluded' as she unleashes fury after Trump win
605 Comments
Keir Starmer's right-hand man refuses 3 times to deny Donald Trump has Nazi sympathies
278 Comments
TRUMP v HARRIS - who will benefit the UK more?
213 Comments
The five ways Donald Trump and Keir Starmer will butt heads in new nightmare for Labour
454 Comments
Keir Starmer warned 'problem won't go away' after ally's 'incredibly embarrassing' blunder
34 Comments
Nigel Farage's tip for US ambassador role is the last person you'd expect
169 Comments
Starmer warned Trump charm offensive at risk after Lammy and Streeting's 'childish slurs'
898 Comments
Donald Trump's astonishing net worth dwarfs King Charles and Prince William's
5 Comments
Britain must be braced for fallout from US election... whichever candidate wins
45 Comments
Sorry Donald! The 6 Labour giants who will be regretting these brutal words on Trump
150 Comments
Labour minister left completely tongue-tied as Question Time's Fiona Bruce skewers her
34 Comments
What Keir Starmer should be thinking about after Donald Trump's US election win
20 Comments
Why Donald Trump's win could hurt Britain - and who's to blame if it does
152 Comments
PM facing the reality of working with new President after his cabinet trashed Trump
35 Comments
EU facing huge crisis as US urged to 'withhold' forces from Europe to fight China
93 Comments
Nigel Farage issues brutal Trump demand to Keir Starmer after huge win
5 Comments
Former MI6 chief reveals how Donald Trump could handle Russia, Iran and Europe
142 Comments
Donald Trump win means Keir Starmer needs Nigel Farage whether he likes it or not
104 Comments
Wes Streeting squirms as he comes under fire over unearthed Donald Trump tweet
257 Comments
Ex-Reform chief warns Donald Trump is about to infuriate Keir Starmer and the EU
56 Comments
Carol Vorderman branded 'deluded' as she unleashes fury after Trump win
605 Comments
Keir Starmer's right-hand man refuses 3 times to deny Donald Trump has Nazi sympathies
278 Comments
TRUMP v HARRIS - who will benefit the UK more?
213 Comments
The five ways Donald Trump and Keir Starmer will butt heads in new nightmare for Labour
454 Comments
Keir Starmer warned 'problem won't go away' after ally's 'incredibly embarrassing' blunder
34 Comments
Nigel Farage's tip for US ambassador role is the last person you'd expect
169 Comments
Starmer warned Trump charm offensive at risk after Lammy and Streeting's 'childish slurs'
898 Comments
Donald Trump's astonishing net worth dwarfs King Charles and Prince William's
5 Comments
Britain must be braced for fallout from US election... whichever candidate wins
45 Comments
Sorry Donald! The 6 Labour giants who will be regretting these brutal words on Trump
150 Comments
Labour minister left completely tongue-tied as Question Time's Fiona Bruce skewers her
34 Comments
What Keir Starmer should be thinking about after Donald Trump's US election win
20 Comments
Why Donald Trump's win could hurt Britain - and who's to blame if it does
152 Comments
PM facing the reality of working with new President after his cabinet trashed Trump
35 Comments
EU facing huge crisis as US urged to 'withhold' forces from Europe to fight China
93 Comments
Nigel Farage issues brutal Trump demand to Keir Starmer after huge win
5 Comments
Former MI6 chief reveals how Donald Trump could handle Russia, Iran and Europe
142 Comments
Donald Trump win means Keir Starmer needs Nigel Farage whether he likes it or not
104 Comments
Wes Streeting squirms as he comes under fire over unearthed Donald Trump tweet
257 Comments
Ex-Reform chief warns Donald Trump is about to infuriate Keir Starmer and the EU
56 Comments
Carol Vorderman branded 'deluded' as she unleashes fury after Trump win
605 Comments
Keir Starmer's right-hand man refuses 3 times to deny Donald Trump has Nazi sympathies
278 Comments
“So of course, we would seek with a new administration, to ensure that as a major ally we were aligned and we were considered. That's in Britain's national interest.
“Of course we do that.
“I believe that they would understand this - that hurting your closest allies cannot be in your medium or long-term interests, whatever the pursuit of public policy in relation to some of the problems posed by China.”