Donald Trump has won the US election, and will become the 47th president of the United States. But while the Republicans celebrate, the Labour lot may not be quite as happy. Starmer’s army has a history of being less than cordial about the president-elect, as new Tory leader Kemi Badenoch noted today at PMQs. Did Foreign Secretary David Lammy apologise for his comments about the US leader? Would Sir Keir Starmer apologise on his behalf? Er, not quite. And no wonder – there are more than a few comments to apologise for. To jog readers’ memories, Mr S has assembled a list of the things Cabinet members have said about the new President. Talk about ageing badly…
Keir Starmer, Prime Minister, 19 June 2018: ‘Humanity and dignity. Two words not understood by President Trump.’
Angela Rayner, Deputy Prime Minister and Levelling Up Secretary, 9 November 2020: Rayner applauded ‘all the activists and organisers across the USA who worked day and night [and] fought Trump’s voter suppression’.
Wes Streeting, Health Secretary, 26 July 2017: ‘Trump is such an odious, sad, little man. Imagine being proud to have that as your president.’
David Lammy, Foreign Secretary, 26 September 2017: [Trump] is a racist KKK and Nazi sympathiser.’
Ed Miliband, Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary, 10 November 2016: ‘The idea that we have shared values with a racist, misogynistic self-confessed groper beggars belief.’
Rachel Reeves, Chancellor, 20 June 2018: ‘The Prime Minister should speak for Britain at #PMQs today and condemn the barbaric forced removed of young children from their parents by Trump’s administration. Heartbreaking to see from a once great democracy.’
Yvette Cooper, Home Secretary, 13 July 2018: ‘Trump’s appalling behaviour’… ‘Watching Trump in recent days has been truly, truly chilling.’
Pat McFadden, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, 6 January 2021: About the Capitol Hill riots: ‘Terrible and distressing scenes from Washington DC. The culmination of the Trump presidency.’
Shabana Mahmood, Justice Secretary, 30 January 2017: ‘Boris Johnson should be clear that #Trump has enacted a #MuslimBan.’
Jonathan Reynolds, Business Secretary, 12 August 2016: ‘We can’t just make stuff up to make ourselves feel better. That’s Trump-esque.’
Liz Kendall, Work and Pensions Secretary, 17 February 2017: ‘Trump & Putin don’t want “real” news, they want silence.’
Louise Haigh, Transport Secretary, 31 January 2017: ‘Donald Trump’s policy is wrong on a basic moral level. Govt should condemn in the strongest terms.’
Peter Kyle, Science and Tech Secretary, 21 October 2017: ‘People like Trump only divide, never unite, even in opposition.’
Hilary Benn, Northern Ireland Secretary, 30 November 2017: ‘As well as deliberately sowing division, Donald Trump demeans the office of President of the United States.’
Ian Murray, Scotland Secretary, 30 November 2017: ‘I asked the Home Secretary if President Donald Trump’s promotion of far-right, extremist propaganda on Twitter constitutes a hate crime.’
Lisa Nandy, Culture Secretary, 13 July 2018: ‘Welcome Donald Trump, human rights nightmare. Good to see Amnesty UK leading the protest #TrumpVisitUK.’
Darren Jones, Chief Secretary to the Treasury: 9 November 2016: ‘Regardless of outcome, the US election being this close w/ someone as bad as Trump means there’s a longer term problem for the centre left’. 6 June 2022: ‘Maybe Donald Trump, Scott Morrison and Boris Johnson can get together for golf and reminisce about the failures of divisive right wing populism.’
Jo Stevens, Wales Secretary: 29 March 2020: ‘We must all call out anyone copying Trump’s cesspit of racism’. 13 October 2019: ‘Voter suppression. Made by Trump & brought to you by @BorisJohnson.’ 25 September 2019: ‘This Tory Cabinet is well and truly infected by Trump and his far right toxicity.’
Steve Reed, Rural Affairs Secretary: 8 December 2015: ‘Donald Trump – not just a clown but a dangerous clown.’ 9 November 2016: ‘President Trump, a terrifying day for the world and for everyone who values democracy and freedom.’ 29 November 2017: ’Trump retweets far-right anti-Muslim hate messages, what a repulsive slimeball.’ 18 July 2019: ‘Trump is a disgrace to his country and a threat to democratic values everywhere, it’s terrifying to see the Conservative Party marching the UK to the same dark destination.’
Anneliese Dodds, Women and Equalities Minister, 23 April 2019: Signed a text that said the British parliament ‘deplores the record of US President Donald Trump, including his misogynism [sic], racism and xenophobia’ as well as his ‘sharing of online content related to a far-right extremist organisation in the UK.’ 4 June 2019: Dodds tweeted: ‘Thanks to BBC Oxford for having me on earlier to discuss Trump’s state visit. Unacceptable red carpet rolled out for someone who locked up Mexican children, ‘grabbed’ women & instituted racist policies.’
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