David Lammy, the UK’s Foreign Minister and prominent Labour Party figure, recently discussed his approach to engaging with the incoming Trump administration, stating his intent to “get across” his views on tariffs and economic policy. Lammy, who has previously been vocal in his criticism of President-elect Donald Trump—labeling him with terms like “woman-hating, neo-Nazi sympathising sociopath” and a “KKK sympathiser”—has faced calls to retract these remarks, especially following his recent elevation to Foreign Secretary.
In a Friday morning interview outlining his diplomatic plans, Lammy stopped short of formally disavowing his past statements. He acknowledged the impact of his new role, telling the BBC, “I am foreign secretary. There are things I know now that I didn’t know back then, and that’s the truth of it.” Lammy’s remarks suggest an attempt to balance his longstanding criticisms with the responsibilities of his position as he prepares to work with the Trump administration.
Despite David Lammy’s outspoken criticisms of Donald Trump in the past, he has recently spearheaded efforts to build a positive relationship with the Trump administration, aided by MP Nigel Farage. Farage, despite his ideological opposition to Lammy, has leveraged his strong ties with Trump’s team to support the UK government’s outreach. In September, Lammy and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer dined with Trump at Trump Tower, where Lammy described the now President-elect as a “gracious host,” noting Trump’s warmth and generosity.
Reflecting on the dinner, Lammy told the BBC that Trump appeared unbothered by their past differences: “He didn’t seem to think it mattered a few weeks ago.” Lammy added, “He was very generous, very gracious, very keen to make sure we felt comfortable. He was funny, very warm about the UK and the royal family… he loves Scotland.”
Yet, Lammy voiced concerns about Trump’s economic policies, particularly his stance on tariffs to protect American jobs. Lammy warned that penalizing allies could harm long-term U.S. interests and suggested the UK might seek exemptions from tariffs aimed at other nations. He emphasized Britain’s need to remain aligned with the U.S. as a major ally and noted that while disagreements are inevitable, so are opportunities that the UK should seize in a renewed U.S.-UK partnership.