Trump lashes out at Britain’s ambassador for a second day

LONDON (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump lashed out for a second day at Britain’s ambassador to the United States on Tuesday, describing him as “wacky” and a “pompous fool,” after a leak of emails critical of the American administration.

The series of tweets came hours after Prime Minister Theresa May stood by Kim Darroch amid the controversy over the release of the documents published in the Mail on Sunday newspaper. Darroch’s forthright views — meant for consumption behind closed doors — have caused embarrassment between two countries that often celebrate having a “special relationship.”

“The wacky Ambassador that the U.K. foisted upon the United States is not someone we are thrilled with, a very stupid guy,” Trump tweeted.

Trump then combined his criticism of Darroch with a broadside at May, chiding her for failing to get her Brexit deal through Parliament.

“I told @theresa_may how to do that deal, but she went her own foolish way-was unable to get it done. A disaster!” Trump tweeted. “I don’t know the Ambassador but have been told he is a pompous fool.”

In the memos, Darroch, who has served as Britain’s envoy to Washington since 2016, suggested that in order to communicate with the president, “you need to make your points simple, even blunt.”

In the leaked documents he called the Trump administration’s policy toward Iran “incoherent,” said the president might be indebted to “dodgy Russians” and raised doubts about whether the White House “will ever look competent.”

Darroch has had a close relationship with numerous Trump administration officials and the president’s advisers have been frequent guests at embassy events.

An investigation is underway over the major breach of diplomatic security.

May’s spokesman said the prime minister had phone Darroch to tell him he still had her full support.

But the tweets, together with a similar barrage on Monday, ratcheted up pressure on Britain’s government over Darroch, who also has been accused by some Brexit-backing U.K. politicians of lacking enthusiasm for Britain’s departure from the European Union.