Kim Darroch Quits as U.K. Ambassador After Infuriating Trump

Britain’s ambassador to the U.S. dramatically resigned after leaked comments in which he criticized the Trump White House sparked a major diplomatic row between the transatlantic allies.

President Donald Trump decided to freeze out Kim Darroch, saying he would no longer deal with the man who had called his administration “inept” and “uniquely dysfunctional.”

In a statement released by the U.K. government, Darroch announced he would quit after a “difficult” few days. “The current situation is making it impossible for me to carry out my role as I would like,” he said.

The resignation follows a sustained attack from Trump, who on Tuesday described Darroch as a “pompous fool.”

Perhaps more difficult for Darroch was the response of Boris Johnson, the man who is likely to be the U.K.’s next prime minister. During a televised debate on Tuesday, Johnson declined to back Darroch and would not commit to keeping him in his job, in sharp contrast to the endorsements and support the ambassador received from other senior British politicians.

“Since the leak of official documents from this Embassy there has been a great deal of speculation surrounding my position and the duration of my remaining term as ambassador. I want to put an end to that speculation,” Darroch said. “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.”