Trump addresses fatal accident involving U.S. diplomat's wife, says he gets Britain's 'anger' but 'it happens'


In a phone call Wednesday, British Prime Minster Boris Johnson raised with President Trump the case of an American diplomat's wife who fled Britain, claiming diplomatic immunity, after a fatal Aug. 27 accident in which 19-year-old Harry Dunn was killed. "The prime minister urged the president to reconsider the U.S. position so the individual involved can return to the U.K., cooperate with police, and allow Harry's family to receive justice," Johnson's office said in a summary of the call, adding that the two "leaders agreed to work together to find a way forward as soon as possible."
Trump commented on the incident at a press conference later Wednesday. He did not name the woman, Anne Sacoolas, but said that he understands "the anger from the other side" but diplomatic immunity is "a complex issue," and "we are going to speak to her very shortly and see if we can do something" so "there can be healing." What happened was "a terrible accident," Trump added. "The woman was driving on the wrong side of the road. And that can happen. You know, those are the opposite roads. That happens. I won't say it ever happened to me, but it did."
"When you get used to driving on our system and then you're all of a sudden on the other system where you're driving, it happens," Trump said. "You have to be careful." Dunn's parents, who recently met with British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, said they plan to start a civil action against Sacoolas.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
5 artfully drawn cartoons about Donald Trump's Epstein doodle
Cartoons Artists take on a mountainous legacy, creepy art, and more
-
Violent videos of Charlie Kirk’s death are renewing debate over online censorship
Talking Points Social media ‘promises unfiltered access, but without guarantees of truth and without protection from harm’
-
What led to Poland invoking NATO’s Article 4 and where could it lead?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION After a Russian drone blitz, Warsaw’s rare move to invoke the important NATO statute has potentially moved Europe closer to continent-wide warfare
-
House posts lewd Epstein note attributed to Trump
Speed Read The estate of Jeffrey Epstein turned over the infamous 2003 birthday note from President Donald Trump
-
Supreme Court allows 'roving' race-tied ICE raids
Speed Read The court paused a federal judge's order barring agents from detaining suspected undocumented immigrants in LA based on race
-
South Korea to fetch workers detained in Georgia raid
Speed Read More than 300 South Korean workers detained in an immigration raid at a Hyundai plant will be released
-
DC sues Trump to end Guard 'occupation'
Speed Read D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb argues that the unsolicited military presence violates the law
-
RFK Jr. faces bipartisan heat in Senate hearing
Speed Read The health secretary defended his leadership amid CDC turmoil and deflected questions about the restricted availability of vaccines
-
White House defends boat strike as legal doubts mount
Speed Read Experts say there was no legal justification for killing 11 alleged drug-traffickers
-
Epstein accusers urge full file release, hint at own list
speed read A rally was organized by Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie, who are hoping to force a vote on their Epstein Files Transparency Act
-
Court hands Harvard a win in Trump funding battle
Speed Read The Trump administration was ordered to restore Harvard's $2 billion in research grants