The White House is in damage control mode this evening after President Trump appeared to contradict Britain's position on Israel, sparking a fresh diplomatic row. In a late-night press conference, Trump denied he had defied a key ally, claiming his comments had been 'misinterpreted'.
The crisis began when Trump told reporters that the US would 'stand with Israel no matter what', a statement that appeared to undercut the UK's call for restraint. Downing Street sources were furious, with one describing it as 'unhelpful' and 'dangerous'.
The President's denial came after a flurry of calls between Washington and London. Number 10 made clear they expected a retraction. Trump, under pressure from his own foreign policy team, eventually backtracked. But the damage may already be done.
The timing could not be worse. The Middle East is on a knife-edge, with Israel and Iran trading threats. The UK, along with France and Germany, has been pushing for a ceasefire. Trump's original remarks threatened to undermine that effort.
The White House insists there is no rift with the UK. 'We remain fully aligned with our British partners,' a spokesperson said. But backbench MPs in London are not convinced. Some are calling for an emergency debate.
The incident exposes a deeper fault line. There is growing unease in Westminster about Trump's unpredictability. 'He cannot be relied upon,' a former cabinet minister confided. 'One minute he is with us, the next he is off-script.'
For now, the crisis has been contained. But the episode has rattled nerves. Diplomats on both sides of the Atlantic will be working overtime to ensure it does not escalate further. The question is: how long before the next flare-up?
