The dismissal stems from comments Phil Goff made at a London event, likening the Ukraine conflict to the Munich Agreement and questioning Trump's historical awareness.
New Zealand Dismisses Envoy Over Trump's Historical Insights Controversy
New Zealand Dismisses Envoy Over Trump's Historical Insights Controversy
New Zealand's High Commissioner to the UK was terminated following controversial remarks regarding President Trump's understanding of history.
New Zealand has taken decisive action, firing Phil Goff, its High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, due to remarks that challenged U.S. President Donald Trump's grasp of historical events. During a recent event in London, Goff drew parallels between the ongoing war in Ukraine and the Munich Agreement of 1938, a deal that permitted Adolf Hitler's annexation of Czechoslovakia.
When discussing the historical context, Goff recalled Sir Winston Churchill's disdain for the Munich Agreement and expressed doubt regarding Trump's understanding of history, stating, "President Trump has restored the bust of Churchill to the Oval Office. But do you think he really understands history?"
These comments prompted a stern response from New Zealand's Foreign Minister, Winston Peters, who deemed Goff's remarks "deeply disappointing" and indicated that they rendered his position "untenable." Peters emphasized that Goff's views did not reflect the official stance of the New Zealand government, underscoring the importance of maintaining diplomatic decorum when representing the nation.
Goff's comments followed a controversial incident in which Trump halted military aid to Ukraine amidst a tense exchange with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Oval Office the previous week. Goff had highlighted Churchill's criticism of the Munich Agreement, where the former British Prime Minister admonished then-UK Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain for choosing "dishonour" over war — a narrative that Goff used to draw comparisons to Trump’s recent policy decisions.
New Zealand’s Foreign Minister articulated the expectations of conduct for senior officials, stating, "You represent the government and the policies of the day; you're not able to free think. You are the face of New Zealand." Goff had been serving in his role since January 2023 but had a long history in various ministerial positions, including justice, foreign affairs, and defense.
The decision to dismiss Goff drew criticism from former Prime Minister Helen Clark, who supported his comments regarding the parallels drawn at the Munich Security Conference and denoted the firing as based on a "very thin excuse."
