Lindsey Graham blames media for ouster of British ambassador
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Wednesday blamed the news media after British Ambassador to the U.S. Kim Darroch was forced to step down, arguing the diplomat who infuriated the Trump administration had “got a raw deal” from the press.
The finger-pointing from Graham, an ally of President Trump, came after Darroch resigned earlier in the day following the leak of critical comments he made about the Trump administration, calling Trump “inept” and “incompetent” in diplomatic cables.
“Kim Darroch did an outstanding job as Ambassador and sorry to see he has resigned his post. He got a raw deal from press,” Graham tweeted to his nearly 940,000 followers.{mosads}
Trump said earlier this week his administration would cease working with Darroch while referring to him as “wacky,” “a pompous fool” and a “very stupid guy” after the U.K.-based Daily Mail published the ambassador’s cables.
…handled. I told @theresa_may how to do that deal, but she went her own foolish way-was unable to get it done. A disaster! I don’t know the Ambassador but have been told he is a pompous fool. Tell him the USA now has the best Economy & Military anywhere in the World, by far…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 9, 2019
While British Prime Minister Theresa May voiced confidence in the ambassador and said he would not be replaced, Darroch wrote in his resignation letter that “the current situation is making it impossible for me to carry out my role as I would like.”
“Since the leak of official documents from this Embassy there has been a great deal of speculation surrounding my position and the duration of my remaining term as ambassador. I want to put an end to that speculation,” wrote Darroch, who had served in the diplomatic post since 2016.
“Although my posting is not due to end until the end of this year, I believe in the current circumstances the responsible course is to allow the appointment of a new ambassador.”
Darroch will stay on until a replacement is found, according to a spokesman for the U.K. Foreign Office.
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