New Zealand dismissed its High Commissioner to Britain Phil Goff after commenting on US President Donald Trump

New Zealand has dismissed its high commissioner Phil Goff in Britain after commenting on US President Donald Trump.

The incident happened when Gaff interrogated Trump’s understanding of Trump’s history on a platform in London, so the New Zealand government saw it as criticism of Trump and took immediate action.

During the panel discussion at the Chautham House in London, UK’s New Zealand High Commissioner Phil Goff Finland questioned Finland Finance Minister Elena Walton. He compared Trump to Churchill, quoting British Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s speech during World War II.

Goff said during the discussion, “President Trump has returned the statue of Churchill in the Oval Office. But do you think he really understands history?” Goff’s statement raised questions about US President Donald Trump’s history, which led to the debate.

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters also said that after such a national comment on Trump, it is not right for Gof to be London as a High Commissioner.

New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Pieters describes Goff’s comments as a great disappointment. “Goff’s comments do not represent the New Zealand government ideas,” Peters said.

Phil Gaf was a former Foreign Minister and the Center-left Labor Party MP. He was appointed as the New Zealand High Commissioner in Britain in 2021.

Goff’s political experience is quite wide, but because of Trump’s remarks he had to step down. After this incident, there is currently no response from the US or Trump administration. However, such comments can affect diplomatic relations between the two countries.