New Zealand Reinstates Diplomatic Protocol Following Envoy’s Trump Comments

New Zealand recalls its top diplomat in the U.K., Phil Goff, after his controversial comments questioning President Trump’s grasp of history in relation to the Ukraine conflict, highlighting sensitivities surrounding political discourse.

New Zealand has taken diplomatic action by recalling its high commissioner to the United Kingdom, Phil Goff, following remarks he made that questioned President Trump's understanding of historical context during an event about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Goff's comments were made in London where he suggested that Trump, despite restoring a bust of Winston Churchill in the Oval Office, might not grasp the significance of historical choices, specifically alluding to Churchill's critiques of appeasement in the lead-up to World War II.

At the event hosted by the Chatham House think tank, Goff prompted laughter by positing whether Trump truly understands history during a discussion led by Finland's foreign minister, Elina Valtonen. This exchange came against a backdrop where Trump has controversially claimed that Ukraine bears responsibility for the war, a stance opposed to the prevailing global view of Russia's aggression.

In response to Goff's comments, New Zealand's foreign minister, Winston Peters, expressed disappointment and declared Goff's position “untenable,” emphasizing the delicate nature of diplomatic relations and the need for representatives to maintain decorum in their public discussions about sensitive topics.