Boris Johnson sparks scathing response over claims he’s ‘glad’ to see Trump leave

Claims that Boris Johnson is glad that Donald Trump has not been re-elected have been called out on social media as users highlight the prime minister’s previous praise for the US president.

Ex-Civil Service head Lord Mark Sedwill said he believes people who contended Johnson would have preferred Trump to win were "mistaken".

Writing in theDaily Mail, the former cabinet secretary, who was the UK's most senior civil servant until he stepped down in September, added that a second-term would not have benefited British security, transatlantic trade or an environmental agenda.

However, it has been pointed out that the PM’s public statements on the US president have differed significantly over the years.

Earlier this month, he said Trump was "completely wrong" to cast doubt on the US election result and  encourage his supporters to storm the Capitol building.

But last week, Johnson declined to say whether he regretted previously suggesting the president may be deserving of a Nobel Peace Prize if he could “fix” North Korea and the Iran nuclear deal.

During his time as foreign secretary in 2018, he said: "I don't see why he's any less of a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize than Barack Obama who got it before he even did anything."

While running to become Conservative leader in 2019, Johnson also said Trump had "many, many good qualities" and praised his record in office.

After the president won the 2016 election, the now-PM added there was "a lot to be positive" about.

Despite this, in 2015, when he was Mayor of London, Johnson called Trump "unfit" to be president and accused him of "stupefying ignorance" after the businessman tried to justify closing US borders to Muslims by making claims about violence in the capital.

Social media users reacted to the latest pronouncement by Sedwill.

After Joe Biden’s US election victory in November, Johnson defended his “good relationship” with Trump and told the House of Commons it was the “duty of all British prime ministers” to maintain stable relations with the White House.