PM reiterates that US president was wrong to retweet far-right UK group’s videos, as opposition to state visit grows at Westminster
Theresa May has issued a carefully worded rebuke of Donald Trump for retweeting material from the “hateful” far-right group Britain First, but stressed the importance of the special relationship between the US and the UK.
Speaking in Amman, Jordan, on the final stop of a tour of the Middle East, the prime minister delivered a speech on foreign policy and Britain’s post-Brexit role in the region, but faced a series of questions about the US president’s controversial tweets.
She insisted she would “not be afraid” to criticise Trump and the US, and again condemned his decision to retweet videos from Britain First’s deputy leader, Jayda Fransen, purportedly showing violence committed by Muslims.
Britain’s ambassador to Washington, Sir Kim Darroch, confirmed on Thursday that he had personally raised the issue of the tweets with the White House on Wednesday. He tweeted: “British people overwhelmingly reject the prejudiced rhetoric of the far right, which seek to divide communities & erode decency, tolerance & respect.”
It was unclear whether Darroch’s conversation with the White House took place before or after Trump reignited the controversy with a tweet criticising May.
In response to a statement from Downing Street on Wednesday describing his actions as “wrong”, the president issued a tweet directed personally at the prime minister, saying: “Theresa May, don’t focus on me, focus on the destructive Radical Islamic Terrorism that is taking place within the United Kingdom. We are doing just fine!”
British government officials would like action to be taken as a result of the UK diplomats explaining the nature of Britain First to the White House, but stressed the UK was not in a position to demand that the president delete his tweet or apologise.
Officials were eager to underline how forcefully the UK had made its points to the White House, but clearly the UK does not want to get locked into a stand-off with the president.
May was careful to limit her criticism of Trump. She said: “The fact that we work together does not mean that we are afraid to say when we think that the United States have got it wrong and to be very clear with them. I am very clear that retweeting from Britain First was the wrong thing to do.
“Britain First is a hateful organisation. It seeks to spread division and mistrust in our communities. It stands in fundamental opposition to the values that we share as a nation – values of respect, tolerance and, dare I say it, common decency.”
Continue Reading: Theresa May says she is not afraid to criticise Donald Trump
Theresa May has issued a carefully worded rebuke of Donald Trump for retweeting material from the “hateful” far-right group Britain First, but stressed the importance of the special relationship between the US and the UK.
Speaking in Amman, Jordan, on the final stop of a tour of the Middle East, the prime minister delivered a speech on foreign policy and Britain’s post-Brexit role in the region, but faced a series of questions about the US president’s controversial tweets.
She insisted she would “not be afraid” to criticise Trump and the US, and again condemned his decision to retweet videos from Britain First’s deputy leader, Jayda Fransen, purportedly showing violence committed by Muslims.
Britain’s ambassador to Washington, Sir Kim Darroch, confirmed on Thursday that he had personally raised the issue of the tweets with the White House on Wednesday. He tweeted: “British people overwhelmingly reject the prejudiced rhetoric of the far right, which seek to divide communities & erode decency, tolerance & respect.”
It was unclear whether Darroch’s conversation with the White House took place before or after Trump reignited the controversy with a tweet criticising May.
In response to a statement from Downing Street on Wednesday describing his actions as “wrong”, the president issued a tweet directed personally at the prime minister, saying: “Theresa May, don’t focus on me, focus on the destructive Radical Islamic Terrorism that is taking place within the United Kingdom. We are doing just fine!”
British government officials would like action to be taken as a result of the UK diplomats explaining the nature of Britain First to the White House, but stressed the UK was not in a position to demand that the president delete his tweet or apologise.
Officials were eager to underline how forcefully the UK had made its points to the White House, but clearly the UK does not want to get locked into a stand-off with the president.
May was careful to limit her criticism of Trump. She said: “The fact that we work together does not mean that we are afraid to say when we think that the United States have got it wrong and to be very clear with them. I am very clear that retweeting from Britain First was the wrong thing to do.
“Britain First is a hateful organisation. It seeks to spread division and mistrust in our communities. It stands in fundamental opposition to the values that we share as a nation – values of respect, tolerance and, dare I say it, common decency.”
Continue Reading: Theresa May says she is not afraid to criticise Donald Trump
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