Boris Johnson denies mocking Donald Trump after video of leaders discussing US president emerges
2 min read
Boris Johnson has described claims that he and fellow world leaders mocked Donald Trump behind his back as "complete nonsense".
The Prime Minister's denial came after footage emerged of him laughing along with Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, French president Emmaniel Macron and Dutch premier Mark Futte at a reception for Nato leaders at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday night.
In comments widely-believed to be about President Trump, Mr Trudeau said he had given “a 40-minute press conference off the top”, adding he "just watched his team’s jaws drop to the floor”.
Asked about the incident, the President called his Canadian counterpart “two-faced”, before cancelling a press conference which had been due to take place at the end of the Nato summit.
The billionaire Republican tweeted: “When today’s meetings are over, I will be heading back to Washington.
“We won’t be doing a press conference at the close of NATO because we did so many over the past two days. Safe travels to all!”
At his own press conference, Mr Johnson was asked if he and his fellow leaders had been mocking President Trump.
The PM replied: “No. That’s complete nonsense. I don’t know where that’s come from.”
The PM also urged other Nato members to join the UK in spending 2% of their country’s GDP on defence so the military alliance can continue for "the next 70 years".
He said: "The UK has long argued that you can't be complacent about that, you can't remotely take that for granted.
"You have got to ensure that we continue to spend on our collective defence and that's why we have made the case for 2% of GDP is the minimum Nato spend for every member."
He was also asked about the UK’s position on those who fought for ISIS being returned to the UK after President Trump threatened to send them back to Europe.
Mr Johnson said: "As you know, one of the difficulties we have in taking these people back is that our legal systems make it very difficult for us to secure convictions.
"And I go back to what I said earlier, people go out to break the law, to sort of fight in terrorist organisations, then they really have to take the consequences."
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