UK’s Jeremy Hunt hits Trump: Comments about ambassador are ‘disrespectful and wrong’

British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, who is in the running to become the nation’s next prime minister, on Tuesday called out President Trump’s “disrespectful” comments about British officials.

Trump went after British Ambassador to the U.S. Kim Darroch and outgoing Prime Minister Theresa May on Twitter on Monday after leaked memos showed Darroch describing the president’s administration as “inept.” 

Speaking “frankly” as “friends,” Hunt said Trump’s comments were wrong. 

He said if he becomes the country’s next prime minister, Darroch will stay in his position.{mosads}

“Your diplomats give their private opinions to @SecPompeo and so do ours! You said the UK/US alliance was the greatest in history and I agree,” Hunt tweeted Tuesday. “But allies need to treat each other with respect as @theresa_may has always done with you. Ambassadors are appointed by the UK government and if I become PM our Ambassador stays.”

1/2 @realDonaldTrump friends speak frankly so I will: these comments are disrespectful and wrong to our Prime Minister and my country. Your diplomats give their private opinions to @SecPompeo and so do ours! You said the UK/US alliance was the greatest in history and I agree… https://t.co/hNeBWmyyVN

— Jeremy Hunt (@Jeremy_Hunt) July 9, 2019

2/2…but allies need to treat each other with respect as @theresa_may has always done with you. Ambassadors are appointed by the UK government and if I become PM our Ambassador stays.

— Jeremy Hunt (@Jeremy_Hunt) July 9, 2019

The British government continued to show its support for Darroch amid Trump’s backlash, while also acknowledging that the leak was “unfortunate.” 

Hunt is one of two remaining Conservative Party members facing off to lead the party and country. The party’s 160,000 members will vote between Hunt and Boris Johnson with a winner chosen later this month. 

May announced she was stepping down from her role amid failed Brexit negotiations. 

Trump called out May’s failure to negotiate a Brexit deal, which she inherited from her predecessor David Cameron, who stepped down after the referendum vote, in his tweets. 

“What a mess she and her representatives have created. I told her how it should be done, but she decided to go another way,” he tweeted. 

He also said the U.S. will “no longer deal with” Darroch.