Donald Trump has renewed his attack on the UK ambassador, describing him as “wacky” and a “very stupid guy”, in a series of tweets posted Tuesday.
The outburst comes after the leak of sensitive diplomatic memos detailing the “uniquely dysfunctional” and “inept” White House under the US president.
In the tweets, which he ended by thanking himself, Trump said Sir Kim Darroch was “foisted upon the United States is not someone we are thrilled with, a very stupid guy”.
He added: “He should speak to his country, and Prime Minister May, about their failed Brexit negotiation, and not be upset with my criticism of how badly it was handled.
“I told Theresa Mayhow 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 and they are both only getting bigger, better and stronger…..Thank you, Mr. President!”
The BBC’s Nick Bryant reports that Darroch will no longer attend a planned meeting today between Ivanka Trump and Liam Fox.
Trump was continuing his attack from Monday in which he said he would “no longer deal” with the Darroch and criticised May for making a “mess” of Brexit.
The PM’s official spokesman revealed that May had told her Cabinet on Tuesday that she was appalled by the leak and gave her full support to the ambassador.
“The prime minister said that while the views expressed in the documents are not necessarily the views of ministers or the government, it is hugely important that ambassadors are able to provide honest, unvarnished assessments of the politics in their country,” he said.
“She said it is therefore absolutely right that we continue to give Sir Kim Darroch our full support.”
Trump’s outspoken attack – the most strident public criticism of a British PM by a US president in decades – will alarm and dismay Downing Street.
It comes just a month after the Government rolled out the red carpet for the president for a state visit in which he praised the enduring strength of the “special relationship”.
In the Commons, there were calls for the police to investigate amid widespread anger at the diplomatic fall-out from the leak.
Tom Tugendhat, chairman of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, told MPs he had written to the Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick to “ask that a criminal investigation also be opened into the leak”.