Politics

REPORT: White House Issues Formal Apology To UK Regarding GCHQ Wiretapping Claim

Christian Datoc Senior White House Correspondent
Font Size:

Sean Spicer has reportedly issued a formal apology to the United Kingdom after repeating claims during Thursday’s briefing that the U.K. Government Communications Headquarters spied on Trump Tower during the 2016 election.

Sean Spicer (Getty Images)

Sean Spicer (Getty Images)

Multiple sources told The Telegraph that both Spicer and National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster reached out to British counterparts to apologize for the remarks, with Spicer speaking with Britain’s Ambassador to the United States Kim Darroch and McMaster contacting British National Security adviser Mark Lyall Grant.

A spokesman for Prime Minister Theresa May acknowledged the apology, in which the Spicer promised the U.S. would not repeat claims that GCHQ, one of Britain’s chief intelligence gathering bodies, surveilled Trump Tower.

US Army Lieutenant General H.R. McMaster looks on as President Donald Trump announces him as his national security adviser at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, on February 20, 2017. (Photo credit: NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images)

US Army Lieutenant General H.R. McMaster looks on as President Donald Trump announces him as his national security adviser at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, on February 20, 2017. (Photo credit: NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images)

The spokesman added that the U.K. “made clear” it views the allegations as “ridiculous.”

WATCH:

Follow Datoc on Twitter and Facebook