Collateral Damage

Much bigger and more ambitious than a first-person rise and fall Great vignettes and classy analysis from the man who until a year ago sat at the top of the diplomatic tree There is nothing dusty or dry in his account of dealing with the twin forces of Boris and Donald, and how theyve shaped politics and his life Guardian @realDonaldTrump: The wacky ambassador that the UK foisted on the United States is not someone we are thrilled with, a very stupid guy We will no longer deal with him Kim Darroch was British Ambassador to the US as the age of Trump dawned and Brexit unfolded. One of the UKs most experienced and respected diplomats, to Darroch was given the task of explaining Trump to the British and Brexit to the Americans. Choosing to resign after his confidential cables criticising the Trump administration were leaked to the press, Darrochs unvarnished, behind-the-scenes account reveals for the first time the inside story of this tumultuous time and reflects more broadly on Britains relationship with the United States. In a book rich in anecdote and insight, he describes the challenges of dealing with the Trump White House; and offers a diplomats perspective on Brexit and how it looked to Britains closest ally. As the closest Brit to the story, Darroch explains why the British embassy suspected a Trump victory from as early as February 2016, what part every key figure from Sarah Sanders to Michael Flynn has played in Trumps administration, and what balanced policy makers on both sides of the Atlantic should consider during this era of pandemic, seismic change and populist politics. With riveting insider detail, Collateral Damage charts the strangest and most convulsive period in the recent history of Britain and the US and the state of the special relationship today.