❓WHAT HAPPENED: UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy is hosting U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance at Chevening House during Vance’s private family holiday in the UK.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: David Lammy, J.D. Vance, and their families.
📍WHEN & WHERE: Friday, at Chevening House in Kent, UK.
💬KEY QUOTE: “Let me just say on J.D. Vance that I’ve met him now on several occasions, we share a similar working-class backgrounds with addiction issues in our family.” – David Lammy
🎯IMPACT: Strengthened ties between the U.S. and UK, with a focus on shared values and personal connections.
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy is set to welcome U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance to Chevening House, a historic Grade 1 listed mansion in Kent, on Friday. The meeting is part of Vance’s private holiday in the UK with his family. According to the White House, the two leaders will discuss “a variety of topics pertaining to the U.S.-UK relationship.” Vance and his family plan to spend most of their time in the Cotswolds and are also expected to visit Hampton Court Palace during their stay.
Lammy and Vance have developed a working relationship since Lammy took on the position of Foreign Secretary last year. The two reportedly bonded over their shared Christian faith and similar experiences with working-class backgrounds and family addiction issues. Lammy previously attended mass at Vance’s residence in Washington during an official visit in March.
Speaking about Vance last summer, Lammy noted, “Let me just say on J.D. Vance that I’ve met him now on several occasions, we share a similar working-class backgrounds with addiction issues in our family. We’ve written books on that, we’ve talked about that, and we’re both Christians. So I think I can find common ground with J.D. Vance.”
Notably, however, Lammy has had a more rocky relationship with President Donald J. Trump. The National Pulse reported last August that the UK Foreign Secretary has referred to the America First leader as a “neo-Nazi sympathizing sociopath” and “tyrant.” Defending his remarks, Lammy argued, “You’re going to struggle to find any politician who has not had things to say about Donald Trump in his first term, particularly on Twitter.”
The visit comes just weeks after President Trump traveled to Scotland for a private visit to his golf courses and met with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen. Trump also agreed to a trade deal with the EU and is expected to return to the UK for a state visit in September.
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