David Lammy tries to mend ties after calling Trump a 'neo-Nazi sympathiser'

By Jacob Paul (with Emily, Jon & Lewis)

From comparing Trump to Hitler to calling for his state visit to be canceled during his last presidency, the UK’s foreign secretary has got a mountain to climb to restore relations with America’s next president.

Read time: 2 minutes

In brief…

• Foreign secretary David Lammy is scrambling to mend ties with Donald Trump after the result of the presidential election.
• Lammy has previously compared Trump to neo-Nazis and called him a “profound threat to international order”.
• The News Agents say this could make matters difficult for Britain’s relationship with the US.

What’s the story?

Foreign Secretary Daivd Lammy is scrambling to rebuild bridges with Donald Trump after the Republican’s historic win in the presidential election.

Lammy was quick to congratulate Trump after his sweeping victory on Wednesday morning.

He tweeted: “Congratulations to Donald Trump on your victory.

“The UK has no greater friend than the US, with the special relationship being cherished on both sides of the Atlantic for more than 80 years. “We look forward to working with you and JD Vance in the years ahead.”

It marks quite the departure from Lammy’s previous rhetoric when Labour was in opposition.

From comparing Trump to Hitler to calling for his state visit to be canceled during his last presidency, here’s what Lammy has said about Trump, and how it could impact the UK-US “special relationship.”

What has Lammy said about Trump?

In 2017, Lammy called Trump a “racist and KKK/neo-Nazi sympathiser”.

In 2018, the Tottenham MP wrote in Time magazine that he would be protesting against the then-government’s “capitulation to this tyrant in a toupee”, referring to Trump’s first official visit to the UK.

He 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.”

Now, Lammy has attempted to distance himself from his previous attacks on the new president.

He has said: “Where I can find common cause with Donald Trump, I will find common cause”.

How has Kemi Badenoch responded?

New Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch used Lammy's previous comments as ammunition in her first PMQs as Tory leader on Wednesday morning.

She asked Keir Starmer if he will apologise for Lammy calling Trump a "neo-Nazi sympathising sociopath".

"It was her first Prime Minister's question as leader of the opposition, and she decided to go high by goading Keir Starmer," says Lewis.

But Emily think she should tread carefully.

"I wouldn't have thought that at this point the Conservatives wanted to be totally Maga-aligned.

What’s The News Agents take?

Lewis Goodall says that this isn't exactly “ideal” for Lammy.

Jon Sopel agrees, saying this will certainly make matters difficult for Britain’s relationship with the US.

“We know that Donald Trump is someone who nurses his grievances with great love and care,” he says.

But that doesn’t mean that Starmer should do anything to appease Trump, Emily Maitlis argues.

She says: “The worst thing Starmer could do now is subtly shift Lammy or try to recreate his cabinet in a shape that he thinks would please Trump.

“He won't do that. I don't believe he'll do that for a moment. But I think that would just send the most terrible signal.”

Donald Trump: The Sequel

Listen to the latest episode of The News Agents.

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