Donald Trump‘s deputy assistant Sebastian Gorka became embroied in a war of words with veteran BBC presenter Victoria Derbyshire, 56, on Newsnight branding her a “kindergartner”. The extraordinary exchange took place on Wendesday (April 2) when the broadcaster enquired what the UK needed to do to get Trump’s recently announced trade tariffs cut.

He shot back: “If you don’t discriminate against US goods, then the other partner – in which case the UK – will not have their goods discriminated against. It’s very, very simple. A kindergartner should be able to get that.” He then quoted the Bible, citing the line: “Do unto others as you would wish to have done unto yourself” as an explanation for the US president’s dramatic plan to reset international trade. It comes after Trump sparked a trade war by unveiling a series of global tariffs as part of his “liberation day” speech. Gorka insisted the UK should be grateful after they received one of the lowest tariff rates.

“I find it strange that you’ve been afforded such an exceptional status and you’re complaining? I’m not sure I understand that,” Gorka told Derbyshire as the debate on the US-UK relationships blew up.

The US president’s levies, were annouced on Wednesday (April 2) in a White House Rose Garden ceremony which Trump described as the United States’ “declaration of economic independence”.

Amongst the countries being hit with tarriffs Britain was slapped with a “reciprocal” 10% on imports. This on top of the previously announced 25% surcharge on car and steel imports. The tarriffs will put tens of thousands of UK jobs at risk.

Most Popular Comments

“Good someone telling Derbyshire some home truths. He could have added numerous left wing lovies at the BBC who need their American visas blocked.” 18

“We could be a lot worse off? Imagine being in the EUrinal. Wow!!!!!” 16

“Someone from the US speaking truth to the BBC. They’re not keen on the truth, …” 15

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“Has President Trump just started a global trade war that will make everyone poorer?” Derbyshire enquired.

“This zero-sum game thing is really quite amusing. It’s not about trade wars. It’s about equitable relations for everyone’s exports. I don’t understand how this so difficult to understand,” Gorka said chuckling. “Is this complicated for you?” he said.

Undeterred Derbyshire continued to probe: “A research centre at Yale, the budget lab, found that tariffs at 20% would cost…US households up to $4,200 every year; winner of the Nobel memorial prize in economic sciences, Joseph Stiglitz, said ‘virtually all economists think that the impact of the tariffs will be very bad for America and the world – they will almost surely be inflationary’. Are they wrong?” she asked.

“Are these the same experts that told us masks would save you from Covid and it didn’t come from a lab,” Gorka as Derbyshire cut in. “OK, you don’t like them (statistics). Let me give you some more then.”

However Gorka was unimpressed and appeared to threaten to “No, you’re doing it again. Stop. Let me respond or you don’t invite me on your show. It’s that simple. Can I respond?” He then proceeded to refer to a lawsuit brought under the previous Trump administration against Yale University and said: “I could give a fig for the ‘so-called experts” at racist institutions like Yale.”