UK ambassador to the US resigns after leaked emails which criticized Trump - CNBC

British Ambassador to the U.S. Kim Darroch speaks during an annual dinner of the National Economists Club at the British Embassy October 20, 2017 in Washington, DC.

Alex Wong | Getty Images News | Getty Images

The U.K's ambassador to the U.S., Kim Darroch, has resigned following the leak of secret cables in which he described the President Donald Trump administration as "uniquely dysfunctional" and "inept."

Extracts of the leaked cables were published by a U.K. newspaper on Sunday, prompting a row with the U.S. over Darroch's comments about Trump and the White House.

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May had defended Darroch, saying she had "full faith" in him, but the ambassador said in a statement that the "current situation is making it impossible for me to carry out my role."

Trump had reacted to the leaked comments on Monday, saying that the ambassador was not well thought of in the U.S. He commented on Twitter on Tuesday too, repeating that the U.S. "will no longer deal with him."

Trump went further in his criticism, later calling Darroch a "very stupid guy" and "pompous fool."

The U.K.'s Foreign Secretary Hunt hit back, responding to Trump's comments by tweeting: "Friends speak frankly so I will: these comments are disrespectful and wrong to our prime minister and my country."

In his resignation statement Wednesday, experienced diplomat Darroch said that he wanted to put an end to speculation over the remainder of his term as ambassador: "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."

The row over the leak has shaken what Britain characterizes as its "special relationship" with the U.S., but Darroch said that support from both the U.S. and U.K. in recent days had "brought home to me the depth of friendship and close ties between our two countries."

Amid calls for an investigation into how the diplomatic cables and memos were leaked, Darroch defended the "professionalism and integrity of the British civil service" saying it was "the envy of the world."

Questions over Darroch's ability to remain in the post were raised in a televised debate between the forerunners in a leadership race to become Britain's next prime minister. Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said he would support Darroch if he wanted to remain in his post until it ended. Boris Johnson, former foreign secretary, was more ambivalent.

Responding to the resignation, Hunt said on Twitter that he was "deeply saddened" by the announcement.

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