U.K. ambassador who criticized Trump in leaked memos as 'inept' resigns

Kim Darroch
(Image credit: Sait Serkan Gurbuz / Associated Press)

Kim Darroch, the British ambassador to the United States who criticized President Trump's administration in leaked diplomatic cables and who Trump in response pledged to "no longer deal with," has announced his resignation.

"The current situation is making it impossible for me to carry out my role as I would like," Darroch said on Wednesday, The Washington Post reports. He went on to say that the "responsible course" is to step aside.

The U.K. ambassador faced heavy criticism from Trump after he described the president as "inept" and "insecure" in leaked memos. In response, Trump on Twitter pledged that "we will no longer deal with" Darroch, who he went after in subsequent tweets as "wacky," a "very stupid guy," and a "pompous fool."

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Britain stood by Darroch in the wake of Trump's criticism, and on Wednesday, British Prime Minister Theresa May thanked Darroch for his "lifetime of service" and said that "good government depends on public servants being able to give full and frank advice," The Guardian reports. She added, "I want all our public servants to have the confidence to be able to do that."

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Brendan Morrow

Brendan is a staff writer at The Week. A graduate of Hofstra University with a degree in journalism, he also writes about horror films for Bloody Disgusting and has previously contributed to The Cheat Sheet, Heavy, WhatCulture, and more. He lives in New York City surrounded by Star Wars posters.