New Zealand recalled its top diplomat in Britain, Phil Goff, after he questioned President Trump’s understanding of history at a public event. Goff made the comments following a speech by Finland’s foreign minister at a Chatham House think tank event about the war in Ukraine and peace in Europe. He cited Winston Churchill on the choice between dishonor and war, wondering if Trump truly understood history. The audience laughed, and Goff appeared to make a wry allusion to Trump’s embrace of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who Trump has falsely implied is responsible for the war.

However, the Finnish foreign minister, Elina Valtonen, deflected the comment, stating that Churchill’s remarks were timeless. New Zealand’s foreign minister, Winston Peters, later described Goff’s remarks as “deeply disappointing” and said his position had become “untenable.” Peters emphasized that as a diplomat, Goff represented the government and its policies, and was not able to freely express his thoughts.

Goff is a longtime politician and former mayor of Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city. He was appointed to the London post in 2022 under Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, known for her liberal stance against Trump’s first administration. However, New Zealand’s politics have shifted sharply, with voters now having elected their most conservative government in decades. Peters claimed Goff’s removal was not about the U.S. government but about diplomatic conduct.

Nonetheless, the incident reflects the increasing sensitivity among U.S. allies in trying to maintain good relations with Trump’s administration. When reporters asked New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon about Trump’s Oval Office confrontation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, he refrained from criticizing Trump and stated he still trusted him as an ally.

In recent months, Australia’s ambassador to the United States, Kevin Rudd, has also faced questions about his past criticism of Trump potentially affecting his ability to continue in his position. Rudd deleted critical posts from his X account and stated he did not intend them to reflect Australia’s government views.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/06/world/asia/new-zealand-uk-phil-goff-trump.html