Boris Johnson distanced himself from Donald Trump‘s attempts to cling on to power in the US today as he branded him the ‘previous president’.
In a comment that suggests he believes Mr. Trump should cede to his victorious opponent, the Prime Minister praised a ‘refreshing’ discussion he had with president-elect Joe Biden last night.
Mr. Johnson told Prime Minister’s Questions he continues to have a strong relationship with Mr. Trump, who has refused to commit to a peaceful transition of power while making baseless allegations of voter fraud, as he was quizzed on the political turmoil in Washington.
https://youtu.be/6EPbAtdxgsM
But he played up yesterday afternoon’s phone call with the Democrat, focusing on their shared values of standing up for Nato and tackling the climate crisis, two areas Mr. Trump rode roughshod over.
READ ALSO: The Election Is “NOT OVER”, Says Trump
He said there were ‘many areas’ where the UK and US would now be ‘able to make common cause’, as he was grilled at Prime Minister’s Questions.
‘I had and have a good relationship with the previous president, I do not resile from that – it is in the duty of all British prime ministers to have a good relationship with the White House,’ he said in response to a question from Labour’s Angela Eagle.
‘But I am delighted to find the many areas in which the incoming Biden/Harris administration is able to make common cause with us.
‘In particular, it was extremely exciting to talk to president-elect Biden about what he wants to do with the COP26 summit next year in which, as you know, the UK is leading the world in driving down carbon emissions and tackling climate change.’
Downing Street this afternoon said Mr. Johnson had yet to speak to Mr. Trump following his defeat.