Read on Twitter
The Telegraph has been leaked details of notes made during seven high level UK-US meetings. They show Boris Johnson privately told US diplomats Trump was âmaking America great againâ. Also wild May-Trump conversations.
Thread with the quotes... https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/09/05/exclusive-leaked-meeting-notes-show-boris-johnson-said-trump/
Here are the 7 meetings and calls that were captured in the notes, details of which were shared.
The notes were made by US officials during the conversations - ie they are contemporaneous notes.
The notes were made by US officials during the conversations - ie they are contemporaneous notes.
One other bit of context. This, per numerous sources, is how US officials take notes in such meetings.
Someone is designated note-taker. And for in-person meetings, notes are taken by hand, writing down direct quotes.
Someone is designated note-taker. And for in-person meetings, notes are taken by hand, writing down direct quotes.
What follows are some of the direct quotations according to those contemporaneous notes.
Iâll post them raw so you can read for yourself. Again, all of the below is âaccording to the notesâ.
Enjoy...
Iâll post them raw so you can read for yourself. Again, all of the below is âaccording to the notesâ.
Enjoy...
*BORIS JOHNSON + WOODY JOHNSON*
(Context: August 29 2017. Foreign Office)
(Boris was Foreign Sec, Woody US ambo in UK)
Boris: âWe were initially anxious about the US foreign policy but Trump has been doing fantastic stuff on Syria, North Korea, China, Afghanistan."
...
(Context: August 29 2017. Foreign Office)
(Boris was Foreign Sec, Woody US ambo in UK)
Boris: âWe were initially anxious about the US foreign policy but Trump has been doing fantastic stuff on Syria, North Korea, China, Afghanistan."
...
Boris: âHopefully you donât scrap the nuclear dealâ (Iran)
Boris: "America is back under Trumpâ
Woody: "We have to challenge the status quo and Trump is good at thatâ
...
Boris: "America is back under Trumpâ
Woody: "We have to challenge the status quo and Trump is good at thatâ
...
Boris: âWeâll solve problems together"
Boris: âThe president is making America great againâ
[Yes that is Trump's 2016 slogan worn on the red hats]
Boris: âThe president is making America great againâ
[Yes that is Trump's 2016 slogan worn on the red hats]
Sidenote: we put the 'make America great again' quote + others to No 10 for comment.
No10 spokesman: âThe PM is committed to the extremely important relationship between the UK and US and to enhancing the work we do together to ensure the prosperity and security of our citizensâ
No10 spokesman: âThe PM is committed to the extremely important relationship between the UK and US and to enhancing the work we do together to ensure the prosperity and security of our citizensâ
*THERESA MAY AND TRUMP*
(Context: White House lunch with top advisers. Jan 27 2017 - very shortly after the inauguration)
This one is quite a long read out but, I think, worth sticking with...
(Context: White House lunch with top advisers. Jan 27 2017 - very shortly after the inauguration)
This one is quite a long read out but, I think, worth sticking with...
Trump: "Isnât this place great? Itâs so great. Iâve been to Buckingham Palace before and thatâs greater."
[Talked about inauguration crowd, which led him to the Women's March and March for Life, which led him to abortion...]
[Talked about inauguration crowd, which led him to the Women's March and March for Life, which led him to abortion...]
Trump: âAbortion is such a tough issueâ
[asked May if she was pro-life or pro-choice]
Trump: âImagine some animal with tattoos raping your daughter and then she gets pregnantâ
Trump, gesturing to Mike Pence: âHeâs a really tough one on abortionâ
[asked May if she was pro-life or pro-choice]
Trump: âImagine some animal with tattoos raping your daughter and then she gets pregnantâ
Trump, gesturing to Mike Pence: âHeâs a really tough one on abortionâ
Then onto trade...
Trump, on trade talks delayed till post-Brexit:
âThat is so unfair, how can the EU limit you?"
May, on if other EU members would leave:
"No I donât think so and we donât want them to. Itâs better for the EU to stick together but the EU does need reform.â
Trump, on trade talks delayed till post-Brexit:
âThat is so unfair, how can the EU limit you?"
May, on if other EU members would leave:
"No I donât think so and we donât want them to. Itâs better for the EU to stick together but the EU does need reform.â
Trump: âWhat about Brexit? Did Cameron make a mistake?â
May: âLook, itâs Conservative Party politicsâ. (A UK adviser explained why Cameron had to call vote)
May: âLook, itâs Conservative Party politicsâ. (A UK adviser explained why Cameron had to call vote)
Trump: âWhy isnât Boris Johnson the prime minister? Didnât he want the job?â 
[Theresa May explained the Tory leadership process which led to her becoming PM]
Trump: âOh, so you were drafted like in baseball. But really I think you were plotting this all alongâ.
[Theresa May explained the Tory leadership process which led to her becoming PM]
Trump: âOh, so you were drafted like in baseball. But really I think you were plotting this all alongâ.
[On UK-US trade talks. Cohn used to be president of Goldman Sachs]
Trump: âThe guy from our side on trade would be Gary Cohn. That guy used to pay $175 million in taxes a year and now makes $170,000 a year. Incredible.â
Trump: âThe guy from our side on trade would be Gary Cohn. That guy used to pay $175 million in taxes a year and now makes $170,000 a year. Incredible.â
Trump, on Brexit: âWhat about Northern Ireland?â
Trump on N Ireland: âThereâs such hatred there. I just donât understand where it comes from.â
[May tried to explain, Trump started talking about Scotland and how Alex Salmond was a âloserâ]
Trump on N Ireland: âThereâs such hatred there. I just donât understand where it comes from.â
[May tried to explain, Trump started talking about Scotland and how Alex Salmond was a âloserâ]
Trump: âWe are going to get tough on immigration. The Europeans have opened their doors to bad people. We will not have a Paris.â
(Presumably a reference to recent terror attacks in French capital)
(Presumably a reference to recent terror attacks in French capital)
Trump: âCrime is way up in Germany. Women are getting raped all over the placeâ
Trump: âMerkel will lose her next electionâ
May: âNo I donât think she will, sheâs the best politician in Europe right nowâ
(Spoiler: May was right)
Trump: âMerkel will lose her next electionâ
May: âNo I donât think she will, sheâs the best politician in Europe right nowâ
(Spoiler: May was right)
Thereâs passing reference to Trump-Michael Flynn chat on Putin call, widely reported. Then this:
May: âYou have to engage with Putin but beware. He only respects strength. You have to be tough.â
Trump: âI have to talk to this guy. He has a thousand nukes. This isnât the Congo.â
May: âYou have to engage with Putin but beware. He only respects strength. You have to be tough.â
Trump: âI have to talk to this guy. He has a thousand nukes. This isnât the Congo.â
Another sidenote: I read out the above to two people who were in the Trump-May lunch. Both said it was broadly accurate based on their recollections. A third person familiar with the US note said likewise.
*MAY-TRUMP SKRIPAL CALL*
March 2018. Sergei Skripal (Russian spy defected to UK) + daughter were poisoned with Novichok. A chemical attack on British soil.
May wanted nations to jointly expel Russian diplomats. She wanted Trumpâs help. Big moment for her + UK-US relationship...
March 2018. Sergei Skripal (Russian spy defected to UK) + daughter were poisoned with Novichok. A chemical attack on British soil.
May wanted nations to jointly expel Russian diplomats. She wanted Trumpâs help. Big moment for her + UK-US relationship...
[On Skripal / Russian diplomat expulsions]
May: "We really need your leadership on thisâ
Trump: "No, I would rather follow than lead. Angela [Merkel] is doing nothing. She is feeding the beast. I have done stuff and the EU has to do something. We are paying for their defence."
May: "We really need your leadership on thisâ
Trump: "No, I would rather follow than lead. Angela [Merkel] is doing nothing. She is feeding the beast. I have done stuff and the EU has to do something. We are paying for their defence."
[On Skripal]
May: âThree children fell ill after feeding ducks thereâ
Trump: âYes, itâs horrible and disgustingâ
May: âThe US and the UK must stand together on thisâ
Trump: âNo, all of us have to be together. Germany has to do something. You have to put together a coalition."
May: âThree children fell ill after feeding ducks thereâ
Trump: âYes, itâs horrible and disgustingâ
May: âThe US and the UK must stand together on thisâ
Trump: âNo, all of us have to be together. Germany has to do something. You have to put together a coalition."
Trump: âIâm not willing for the US to go first and then have others not to do anything. Germany has to do something.â
Eventually, Trump did actually expel Russian diplomats. 60, more than any nation. WashPost reported when he learned Germany expelled 4 he was... not impressed.
Eventually, Trump did actually expel Russian diplomats. 60, more than any nation. WashPost reported when he learned Germany expelled 4 he was... not impressed.
