At least 11 current members of the UK cabinet have made critical remarks about US president-elect Donald Trump in the past. Now, a Labour minister has defended these past comments by referencing Elon Musk and JD Vance’s own criticisms of Trump.
Using Musk and Vance’s Remarks to Justify Labour’s Past Statements
Labour’s previous criticism of Trump has resurfaced following his recent re-election. The foreign secretary, David Lammy, once called Trump a “woman-hating, neo-Nazi sympathising sociopath” in 2018, while Prime Minister Keir Starmer had criticised Boris Johnson for accepting Trump’s endorsement.
Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden defended Labour’s historical stance by pointing out that even Trump’s allies have criticised him in the past. McFadden noted that vice president-elect JD Vance and business magnate Elon Musk once spoke out against Trump.
Minister Deflects on Labour’s ‘Anti-Trump Sentiment’
When asked by Sky News presenter Wilfred Frost if Labour regrets its past comments, McFadden responded, “A lot has been said over the years, both here and in the US. If you look at what vice president-elect JD Vance said, he questioned if Trump would be America’s Hitler. And Elon Musk advised Trump to ‘walk off into the sunset.’”
McFadden stressed the importance of the UK-US alliance, saying, “Our countries need to work together over the next four years.”
Frost Presses for Apology
Frost pushed further, mentioning social media posts from Labour’s operations team supporting Kamala Harris’s campaign, which Trump’s team labelled “foreign election interference.” But McFadden stood firm, saying that the “enduring alliance” between the UK and the US outweighs past remarks.
He added, “Shared values and interests matter more than tweets from years ago.”
Trump’s Forgiveness Questioned
Frost asked if it was “commendable” of Trump to overlook Labour’s past criticisms. McFadden sidestepped, pointing to the PM’s recent congratulatory call to Trump and their positive dinner meeting in September.
“If president-elect Trump ignored everyone who’s ever criticised him, he wouldn’t have his current vice president-elect,” McFadden joked, suggesting Trump can overlook past remarks.
Labour’s Position on US Relations
In his final comments, McFadden assured Sky’s audience of Labour’s stance: “We are America’s friend and ally, committed to strengthening this relationship under the new president.”
You can watch the interview below:
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