American election has been “downright embarrassing”, US secretary of state John Kerry tells Londoners
US secretary of state John Kerry told London’s City Hall today that this year’s American election has been “downright embarrassing” at times.
Kerry appeared alongside London mayor Sadiq Khan at an event to address young people from across the capital.
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Speaking just over a week before the US will vote for its next president, Kerry said: “This election has been difficult for our country's perception abroad. There are moments when it is downright embarrassing.”
It was an honour to welcome the U.S. Secretary of State @JohnKerry to City Hall this afternoon to speak to young people from across London. pic.twitter.com/v5L0uvFH4d
— Mayor of London (@MayorofLondon) October 31, 2016
Press Association also reported him saying: “The way it's made it difficult for me is that when you sit down with some foreign minister in another country, or with the president or prime minister of another country, and you say, 'Hey, we really want you to move more authoritatively towards democracy', they look at you… they're polite, but you can see the question in their head and in their eyes. And in their expressions. It's hard.”
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City Hall hosts a Town Hall!
Secretary John Kerry and Mayor Sadiq take questions from the floor. pic.twitter.com/07DOrhaSbV— London Gov (@LDN_gov) October 31, 2016
The US will vote for a new president on 8 November. Republican Donald Trump has come under fire after a 2005 tape emerged in which he was filmed bragging about kissing and groping women, while Hillary Clinton is the subject of an FBI investigation.