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The UK’s top diplomat, David Lammy from the Labour Party, has expressed his intention to convey his views on tariffs to the Trump administration while refraining from disavowing his past criticisms of the President-elect.

As the newly appointed Foreign Minister, Lammy has come under scrutiny for his previous disparaging remarks about Donald Trump. During a recent interview, he addressed his past comments but stopped short of retracting them, instead emphasizing his current role and newfound perspective.

Lammy’s previous characterizations of Trump included labeling him a “woman-hating, neo-Nazi sympathising sociopath” and a “dangerous clown.” When questioned about these statements, Lammy acknowledged his changed position, stating, “I am foreign secretary. There are things I know now that I didn’t know back then, and that’s the truth of it.”

Despite their ideological differences, Lammy has been working alongside Nigel Farage MP to improve relations with the Trump administration. This effort culminated in a dinner meeting at Trump Tower in New York, where Lammy and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer dined with the former President.

Reflecting on the dinner, Lammy praised Trump’s hospitality, describing him as a “gracious host” who was “funny” and “warm about the UK.” He noted Trump’s particular fondness for Scotland and the royal family.

However, Lammy expressed concern about Trump’s proposed tariffs to protect American jobs. He emphasized the importance of conveying to the United States that “hurting your closest allies cannot be in your medium or long-term interests.” Lammy suggested seeking exemptions for the UK from potential global tariff rules.

While acknowledging potential disagreements, Lammy stressed the need to seize opportunities in the US-UK relationship. He concluded by stating, “there will be differences and there will be areas where we disagree actually, I suspect. But there are also opportunities and we shouldn’t underestimate the opportunities that there will be as well. And we must seize those.”