David Lammy fails to say he regrets Trump ‘Nazi’ comments
David Lammy has declined to say whether he regrets labelling Donald Trump a "Nazi" after the Republican's election victory on Tuesday.
The Foreign Secretary was repeatedly pressed on whether he believed the president-elect had changed since he called him a "woman-hating, neo-Nazi sympathising sociopath" in 2018.
Mr Lammy, speaking on the BBC's Newscast podcast, dismissed the comments as "old news".
He said he had made efforts to build bridges with Republicans and meet Mr Trump in September because he "felt it in my bones" that the former president would win re-election and return to the White House.
"My gut had been telling me, but also my head had been telling me, that they were in a strong position," he said.
Mr Lammy continued: "I think that what you say as a backbencher and what you do wearing the real duty of public office are two different things.
"And I am Foreign Secretary. There are things I know now that I didn't know back then."
Mr Lammy noted that the US and Britain worked together on intelligence and military matters, saying: "I think he's someone that we can build a relationship with in our national interest because we must."
Trump was a 'gracious host'
Mr Trump did not bring up his comments when the pair had a meal together at Trump Tower in New York two months ago, Mr Lammy said. He did not answer directly when pressed on whether he had been "naive".
He described the Republican as a "generous" and "gracious host", adding: "He did offer me a second portion of chicken."
Mr Lammy told Time magazine in 2018: "Trump is not only a woman hating, neo-Nazi, sympathising sociopath, he is also a profound threat to the international order that has been the foundation of Western progress for so long."
On the BBC interview, he was reminded that he had claimed Mr Trump was "no friend of Britain", labelling him: "Deluded, dishonest, xenophobic, narcissistic" and a "tyrant in a toupe".
Sir Keir Starmer, the British Prime Minister, has insisted that Mr Lammy will remain as Foreign Secretary despite his criticisms of the incoming president .
In a show of support for Mr Lammy, the Prime Minister's press secretary said on Wednesday that he would remain in post until the next general election, which is expected in 2029.
Chris Ruddy, a friend of Mr Trump and chief executive of conservative news outlet Newsmax, told Times Radio on Thursday that the Republican "likes David Lammy" and did not hold the controversial comments against him.
