gc all of which you could determine from the BBC reports of his activities, let alone any more private meetings. The US is as divided as our Brexit and Remainer tribes. Just as remainers don't get what triggered Brexit, Elites can't understand Trump's popularity. Having such a person trying to bridge a gap between the UK and Trump is a recipe for failure. Neither would Farage necessarily be the right guy. Too big an ego and too likely to have a bust up. Danniel Hannan, would be the right sort of person.

Why all the bluster from Trump about the contents of Sir Kim's communications? There's nothing new in them, they are not exactly revelatory (although they might have been for a short time after they were sent). Put "White House factions" into a search engine and the same stories come poring out - the innumerable comings and goings of Communications Directors, Chiefs of Staff, Legal Advisors, etc from before Trump took office to the present. There are even entire books written about the subject.
So why is Trump surprised when an established diplomat reaches those same conclusions that the Trump administration is riven with intrigue and thereby inept? Why the bluster? Is his ego punctured a teeny weeny bit?

Which people are daft enough to make that bet? She was terrible with Trump. Wooden, insincere and tongue tied.

Jul 9, 2019 at 9:14 AM | TinyCO2
Yes -ish!

An Ambassador has to report his/her best assessment for the benefit of Her Majesty's Government. He did.

He reported that Trump was unpredictable. Correct, no one predicted his progress with North Korea for example. He has torn up the rule book of Diplomatic conventions, so by definition, he is not easy for anyone to predict if they base their assumptions on conventions of diplomacy evolved over decades.

He reported that Trump is likely to remain President, supportive of the UK, and is not impressed by the EU's hostility.

GolfCharlie. I believe you would have come across Sir Ken's name but have forgotten it.
Jul 9, 2019 at 8:08 AM | AK

Correct! If I had come across his name, I had forgotten it. How many moles does Whitehall contain?

Yes, it could have been an elected Politician, or Civil Servant or other trusted and honoured individual. Tracing and eradicating moles is not easy, even if their presence is obvious.

He has been very badly betrayed, by a dangerously misguided individual. The breach of trust by someone in a position of responsibility is very serious, it does not matter what the political motivation was, or that it may have unintended consequences that exceed anything intended. The best cybersecurity, encryption etc cannot foil treachery amongst those with privileged access to files marked "Top Secret".