Donald Trump has ruffled diplomatic feathers by tweeting his support for Nigel Farage to become Britain's top diplomat in the US.
In response, the interim Ukip leader said the suggestion had come as a "bolt from the blue", but added he was prepared to help the UK in any way
"By any measure this is an extraordinary intervention," writes Jon Sopel, the BBC's North America editor, adding that it breaches almost every rule of diplomatic protocol and "puts tension in the Trump/Theresa May relationship before they have even met".
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.
Trump's tweet is "guaranteed to raise eyebrows in the UK", says the Daily Telegraph. The paper argues that Farage, who sees Trump as a "kindred spirit", is "hampering the lines of communication between the UK and the incoming president".
In addition, it is felt that the future president has undermined the position of Sir Kim Darroch, the current UK ambassador to the US, who has been in the job since February.
Darroch hit the headlines last week when, in a memo leaked to the Sunday Times, he claimed the UK was best placed of any nation to steer Trump's foreign policy and encourage his more extreme ideas to "evolve".
The memo described the incoming president as "open to outside influence" from Britain if the Prime Minister were to launch a diplomatic offensive to win him over.
The Sunday Times report also quoted Whitehall sources as saying that ministers, generals and intelligence chiefs were drawing up plans to influence Trump on issues such as Nato, Iran, Russia and immigration "in an effort to help the UK exploit his victory and curb his more extreme views".
-
Sea Containers London: new suites bring maritime flair to SouthbankThe Week Recommends Four luxury suites inspired by the Golden Age of ocean liners are crammed with antiques that you can buy
-
Crossword: September 30, 2025The Week's daily crossword
-
Codeword: September 30, 2025The Week's daily codeword puzzle
-
Shutdown: Democrats stand firm, at a costFeature With Trump refusing to negotiate, Democrats’ fight over health care could push the government toward a shutdown
-
TikTok: A little help from Trump’s friendsFeature Trump’s new TikTok deal would hand the app over to 'his billionaire allies,' ignoring national security concerns
-
Trump promotes an unproven Tylenol-autism linkFeature Trump gave baseless advice to pregnant women, claiming Tylenol causes autism in children
-
Trump: Demanding the prosecution of his political foesFeature Trump orders Pam Bondi to ‘act fast’ and prosecute James Comey, Letitia James, and Adam Schiff
-
Why do farmers hate Trump’s Argentina bailout?Today's Big Question Trump’s support for Argentina has ‘heightened tensions’ among farmers already frustrated by the impact of tariffs
-
Oregon sues to stop Trump military deploymentSpeed Read The president wants to send the National Guard into Portland
-
The Liberal Democrats: on the march?Talking Point After winning their highest number of seats in 2024, can the Lib Dems marry ‘stunts’ with a ‘more focused electoral strategy’?
-
Why Trump is so focused on getting a Nobel Peace PrizeThe Explainer A recent poll found that three-quarters of Americans say Trump doesn’t deserve the award
