New Zealand to dismiss senior diplomat over Trump remark
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Goff's remarks drew criticism from New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters, whose spokesperson described them as "deeply disappointing".
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Then Auckland mayor Phil Goff delivers a speech during a mayors' conference as Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo looks on in Paris, Monday, October 23, 2017. (AP)
New Zealand's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Phil Goff, will be removed from his position after making a remark questioning US President Donald Trump’s understanding of history, the country’s foreign minister announced Thursday.
During a panel discussion on the war in Ukraine, Goff speculated on Trump's historical awareness, stating, "Do you think he really understands history?" His remarks drew criticism from New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters, whose spokesperson described them as "deeply disappointing."
"They do not represent the views of the NZ government and make his position as High Commissioner to London untenable," the spokesperson added.
Goff had drawn a parallel between recent diplomatic efforts regarding Ukraine and the 1938 Munich Agreement. Some observers worry that Trump may pressure Ukraine into a peace deal with Russia.
WATCH: Phil Goff's remarks at a Chatham House event which had Foreign Minister Winston Peters effectively sack him. Read more on @the_postnz https://t.co/d0LjJU7Pco pic.twitter.com/is5s9e5arP
— Thomas Manch (@thomas_manch) March 5, 2025
Referencing former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s response to the Munich Agreement, Goff remarked, "I was re-reading Churchill's speech to the House of Commons in 1938 after the Munich agreement. He turned to [then Prime Minister Neville] Chamberlain and said: 'You had the choice between war and dishonour. You chose dishonour yet you will have war'."
Noting Trump’s decision to restore a bust of Churchill to the Oval Office, Goff added, "President Trump has restored the bust of Churchill to the Oval Office, but do you think he really understands history?"
Before being appointed as New Zealand's High Commissioner to the UK in 2023, Goff held multiple ministerial roles, including foreign affairs, and served two terms as Auckland's mayor.
His dismissal comes amid strained relations between Washington and Kiev. The United States recently "paused" intelligence sharing with Ukraine following a public dispute between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office, which was soon followed by the suspension of vital military aid to Ukraine.
