Foreign Secretary and Conservative Leadership Candidate Jeremy Hunt has hit out at President Trump, calling him “disrespectful” towards the Prime Minister and the UK.
Tweeting, Mr Hunt said: “@realDonaldTrump friends speak frankly so I will: these comments are disrespectful and wrong to our Prime Minister and my country.
“Your diplomats give their private opinions to @SecPompeo and so do ours! You said the UK/US alliance was the greatest in history and I agree…”
He added: “But allies need to treat each other with respect as @theresa_may has always done with you.
“Ambassadors are appointed by the UK government and if I become PM our Ambassador stays.”
It comes as Mr Trump called Sir Darroch, the UK’s US ambassador “wacky” and a “pompous fool” on social media on Tuesday morning.
The US president added that Sir Kim Darroch had been “foisted upon the United States” and is “not someone we are thrilled with”.
A series of diplomatic messages sent by the ambassador were leaked at the weekend, in which Sir Kim described Mr Trump as “incompetent”, “inept” and “insecure”.
The revelation has provoked the ire of America’s 45th president, who in recent days has said Sir Kim has “not served the UK well”, claimed “I do not know the ambassador” and that Washington “will no longer deal with him”.
And he has used his favourite method of communication, Twitter, to renew his attack.
Mr Trump wrote: “The wacky Ambassador that the U.K. foisted upon the United States is not someone we are thrilled with, a very stupid guy.”
Prime Minister Theresa May also came in for more criticism, with Mr Trump having on Monday accused her of making a “mess” of Brexit.
The president continued: “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_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 and they are both only getting bigger, better and stronger…..Thank you, Mr. President!”