Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP; Niall Carson/PA Images via Getty
US President Donald Trump at Morristown Municipal Airport, New Jersey, in July 2019; and Kim Darroch, the UK's ambassador to the US, at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC, in May 2019.
- Sir Kim Darroch resigns as the UK's ambassador to the US.
- His resignation comes after confidential memos he sent about president Donald Trump were leaked to the press.
- In the memos Darroch referred to Trump's administration as "uniquely dysfunctional" and "inept"
- Trump responded by labeling Darroch "whacky" and "stupid" and insisting he would no longer work with him.
- Theresa May's likely successor, Boris Johnson, declined to defend him on Tuesday
- Darroch said it was now "impossible" for him to remain in post.
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The UK's ambassador to the US has resigned after his comments labeling Trump "dysfunctional" were leaked to the press.
Darroch entered the eye of a diplomatic storm this week after remarks he made disparaging the Trump administration were leaked to the Mail on Sunday newspaper over the weekend.
In the notes, the UK ambassador to the US said that Trump's government was "uniquely dysfunctional" and added: "We don't really believe this administration is going to become substantially more normal.
He also described Trump's presidency as "incompetent," and "inept."
Trump on Tuesday tweeted that Darroch was a "very stupid guy" and a "pompous fool."
Following the row Darroch said it was now "impossible" for him to remain in post.
"Since the leak of official documents from this Embassy there has been a great deal of speculation surrounding my position and the duration of my remaining term as ambassador," he said in a statement.
"I want to put an end to that speculation. The current situation is making it impossible for me to carry out my role as I would like."
He added: "Although my posting is not due to end until the end of this year, I believe in the current circumstances the responsible course is to allow the appointment of a new ambassador."
- Read more: The UK is investigating whether Russian spies hacked secret memos branding Trump 'uniquely dysfunctional' and 'incompetent'
- Read more:Police asked to investigate explosive UK diplomatic leak labeling Trump's White House 'uniquely dysfunctional' and 'incompetent'
Darroch's future was thrown further into doubt on Tuesday, after the frontrunner to replace Theresa May, Boris Johnson, refused to say he should remain in post.
Johnson refused to criticise Trump, saying only that the president had been "dragged into a British political debate."
A senior ally of Mr Johnson told the Times: "We don't want to put the whole special relationship on the edge because of a row about one person. We do not have anything to gain from a running spat with the White House."
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