Streeting scrambles after launching extraordinary Donald Trump tirade | Politics | News
Wes Streeting has launched an attack on Donald Trump’s language (Image: Getty)
Donald Trump has said “incendiary, provocative, outrageous things” during America’s war with Iran, Wes Streeting has declared.
In another sign of the deteriorating relationship between Downing Street and the White House, the Health Secretary condemned the US President’s “shocking” language”.
He added: “I think we’ve all come to learn that you judge President Trump through what he does, not just what he says.”
Mr Streeting told Sky News: “President Trump has said some pretty bold – in Yes Minister language – incendiary, provocative, outrageous things on social media.”
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Asked if that was the Government’s view, he added: ”Well, you’ve seen some of the things that President Trump has said in the last week. You’ve seen some of the criticisms he has levelled at this country.
“The Prime Minister has sought, throughout the time they’ve both been in office simultaneously to influence effectively.
“The point I’m making is you have to distinguish between some of the rhetoric, which people might find shocking and the reality.
“There were lots of people who went to bed earlier this week with President Trump threatening the end of the Iranian civilisation, wondering what on earth would happen overnight and woke up to a very different picture.”
Mr Streeting said disagreements over the Iran war, Greenland and the Chagos Islands deal had “undoubtedly strained things with the Trump administration”.
He added: “But on so many other things our interests as the UK and the US are intertwined. We are old and close friends, and we’ve got a shared outlook as democratic countries, and we’ve got shared security interests.
“So all of that work, all of that partnership continues to go on. And the point I’m making is you have to to distinguish between some of the rhetoric, which people might find shocking, and then the reality.”
Mr Streeting admitted the failure of US-Iran peace talks was “disappointing”.
The Health Secretary added: “It’s obviously disappointing that we haven’t yet seen a breakthrough in negotiations and an end to this war in Iran that is a sustainable one.
“But as ever in diplomacy, you’re failing until you succeed. So while these talks may not have ended in success, that doesn’t mean there isn’t merit in continuing to try.
“Clearly when you look at the impact of the war in Iran on this country, on other countries around the world who have no part in this war, it is in all of our interests for there to be a breakthrough and an end to this war.”
