UK ambassador resignation rare souring of relations with US

LONDON (AP) — It all so seemed so rosy in the stately Anglo-U.S. garden, however forced, just a few weeks ago.

President Donald Trump was being feted by British royalty and like-minded politicians, though the protesters decrying the American leader's visit were loud and in great numbers in London's Trafalgar Square once again.

The World War II sacrifice and victory that came 75 years ago on the French beaches of Normandy on D-Day were marked with deep-seated mutual admiration and respect.

Then came the dreaded diplomatic cable leak.

Kim Darroch, the British ambassador to the U.S., branded the Trump administration "dysfunctional" and "inept." The unvarnished views caused a furious tweetstorm of insults in reply from the White House. This culminated in Trump saying they would no longer deal with Darroch, dismissing him as a "pompous fool." Darroch announced his resignation today.

The spat comes at a sensitive time for both countries, with Britain about to get a new prime minister who will need to deal with the Brexit issue, and the U.S. speeding toward the 2020 presidential election.