U.K. Ambassador to the U.S. Kim Darroch resigned from his post Wednesday after leaked diplomatic cables exposed his anti-Trump attitude and the White House announced they planned to stop working with him.
In whining about President Trump’s response to the Ambassador’s comments, the CBS Evening News mourned for Darroch’s resignation and defended his comments. “Sir Kim Darroch's resignation came after days of unrelenting criticism by President Trump, who said he would no longer work with the British ambassador,” bemoaned senior foreign affairs correspondent and Face the Nation moderator Margaret Brennan.
Viewers could sense the disdain as Brennan reported on the actions of the Trump administration and the resulting comments from Darroch and the outgoing U.K. leadership:
In a statement, Darroch said, "The current situation is making it impossible for me to carry out my role as I would like." Prime minister Theresa May said she regretted that decision and hoped it won't prevent other diplomats from being candid.
After noting Trump’s initial slams against Darroch over the weekend, Brennan huffed about how Trump “continued to lash out on Twitter, calling Darroch ‘wacky,’ ‘pompous,’ and a ‘very stupid guy.’”
And it was clear she didn’t appreciate the response from Darroch’s critics:
The White House disinvited Darroch from a high-profile event this week and British officials grew concerned that the President might actually cut off all U.S. government contact with their top diplomat in Washington. While the current British government gave a full-throated defense of Darroch, the front-runner to become the next prime minister [Boris Johnson] did not.
Upon cutting back to a live shot, fill-in anchor Jim Axelrod wondered: “Margaret, this kind of diplomatic dust-up, uncommon, extraordinary? How would you characterize it?”
“Extremely unusual,” Brennan exclaimed. She then proceeded to defend the former Ambassador’s disparaging remarks about the President by arguing that “what he said about the Trump administration was based on what he had learned himself from U.S. officials and friends of the President.”
She added: “So, in short, he was doing the job all ambassadors are asked to do, which is to act as the eyes and ears for their governments and candidly report back.”
Brennan wrapped up the segment by decrying President Trump’s reaction for costing Darroch his ambassador post:
The U.K. is investigating how the leak happened, but because President Trump took this personally and since it also became a political football in the U.K., Ambassador Darroch decided he just couldn't do the job any longer.
This wasn’t the first time CBS has sided with a foreign government over the U.S. President.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
CBS Evening News
July 10, 2019
6:39:58 p.m. EasternJIM AXELROD: The British ambassador to the United States resigned today after getting iced out by President Trump for speaking his mind in diplomatic cables. Now, the ambassador thought they were confidential, but they were leaked. Margaret Brennan has more on this.
[Cuts to video]
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sir Kim Darroch's resignation came after days of unrelenting criticism by President Trump, who said he would no longer work with the British ambassador. In a statement, Darroch said, "The current situation is making it impossible for me to carry out my role as I would like." Prime minister Theresa May said she regretted that decision and hoped it won't prevent other diplomats from being candid.
THERESA MAY: Good government depends on public servants being able that give full and frank advice.
BRENNAN: In one of the diplomatic cables leaked to The [Daily] Mail, Darroch said the administration was “clumsy and inept” and doubted they “will ever look competent”. But warned London, “do not write him off”, referencing Mr. Trump's ability the survive scandal. The President fired back on Sunday.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: He has not served the U.K. well. So, I can understand it. And I can say things about him, but I won't bother.
BRENNAN: And he continued to lash out on Twitter, calling Darroch “wacky”, “pompous” and a “very stupid guy”. The White House disinvited Darroch from a high-profile event this week and British officials grew concerned that the President might actually cut off all U.S. government contact with their top diplomat in Washington. While the current British government gave a full-throated defense of Darroch, the front-runner to become the next prime minister did not.
BORIS JOHNSON: I and I alone will decide who takes important and politically sensitive jobs such as the U.K. ambassador to the U.S.
[Cuts back to live]
AXELROD: Margaret Brennan joins us now. Margaret, this kind of diplomatic dust-up, uncommon, extraordinary? How would you characterize it?
BRENNAN: Extremely unusual! I mean, keep in mind, Darroch is experienced, and he's really well connected here in Washington. So, it's important because what he said about the Trump administration was based on what he had learned himself from U.S. officials and friends of the President. So, in short, he was doing the job all ambassadors are asked to do, which is to act as the eyes and ears for their governments and candidly report back. The U.K. is investigating how the leak happened, but because President Trump took this personally and since it also became a political football in the U.K., Ambassador Darroch decided he just couldn't do the job any longer.
AXELROD: Margaret Brennan, thank for your insight.
