Johnson refers to Trump as ‘previous president’, dodges question about US leader’s concession

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson referred to President Trump as the United States’s “previous president,” on Wednesday but dodged a question about whether he has talked to the U.S. leader about refusing to concede to President-elect Joe Biden. 

The British prime minister, who has shared a friendly relationship with Trump throughout his presidency, spoke about his call with Biden while addressing the House of Commons, referring to the exchange as “refreshing” and “excellent.”

After @BorisJohnson says he spoke with Pres.-elect Joe Biden, @angelaeagle asks, “Does the PM now have any advice for his erstwhile best friend, Pres. Trump, whose continuing refusal to accept the results is both embarrassing for him and dangerous for American Democracy?” pic.twitter.com/JHZJdr3hk6

— CSPAN (@cspan) November 11, 2020

The British leader said he and the soon-to-be president discussed major issues that affect both countries, including human rights, his support for NATO, global free trade and combating climate change on the call.

During Johnson’s address, member of Parliament Angela Eagle said Johnson spoke for many of the Parliament members when he congratulated Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on their “emphatic win” in the 2020 election.

She then pressed the prime minister by asking if he had “any advice for his erstwhile best friend, President Trump, whose continuing refusal to accept the results is both embarrassing for him and dangerous for American Democracy?”

Johnson reiterated that he had a strong relationship with Trump, calling him the “previous president” while appearing to dodge the question about the president’s refusal to concede.  

“Well,” Johnson said, while standing up and addressing the speaker of the House of Commons, “I had and have a good relationship with the previous president … it is the duty of all British prime ministers to have a good relationship with the White House.”

“But I am delighted to find the many areas in which Biden, the incoming Biden-Harris administration, is able to make common cause with us. In particular — it was extremely exciting to talk to President-elect Biden about what he wants to do with the COP26 summit next year,” he continued. 

Trump will remain the president of the United States until Biden’s inauguration in January. However, the comments from Johnson come as the president has refused to concede the election to Biden after almost every prominent media outlet projected him the winner of the 2020 election on Saturday morning. 

The president has mounted legal battles across the country in various battlegrounds to contest the results, and has maintained that the election was subject to widespread fraud through mail-in ballots. There is no substantial evidence to support these claims. 

Meanwhile, Biden has already assumed a presidential tone, taking to Twitter to thank the American people for electing him and encouraging them to wear masks as COVID-19 cases skyrocket throughout the country.