Sir Christian Turner Says U.S. Special Relationship Is Probably Israel in Leaked Remarks

A leaked recording of Britain’s Ambassador to the U.S., Sir Christian Turner, has sparked a diplomatic and political backlash after he told a group of British students that the United States’ “special relationship” was “probably Israel,” not Britain.

CBS News reports that Turner said, “I think there is probably one country that has a special relationship with the United States,” adding, “and that is probably Israel.”

Al Jazeera

CNN similarly quotes Turner describing the phrase “special relationship” as “quite nostalgic, it’s quite backwards-looking, and it has a lot of baggage about it,” before saying, “I think there is probably one country that has a special relationship with the United States – and that is probably Israel.”

The remarks were made in February, before the U.S. and Israel launched their joint war with Iran, according to CBS News, and were first reported by the Financial Times on Tuesday, according to CNN.

The timing has placed Turner’s comments in the middle of King Charles III’s state visit to Washington, with CNN noting the remarks could “overshadow King Charles III’s state visit underway in the US this week.”

Politico frames the fallout in London as “dismay” after Turner’s reported comments about accountability in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal and the future of Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, as quoted by CBS News, said the remarks were “private, informal comments made to a group of U.K. sixth-form students visiting the U.S. in early February” and “are certainly not any reflection of the UK Government's position.”

Alongside the “probably Israel” comment, Turner’s leaked remarks also returned to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal and to Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s political vulnerability.

CBS News says Turner told students it was “extraordinary” that the Epstein scandal “has 'brought down' a senior member of the royal family [ ], a British ambassador to Washington [ ], potentially the prime minister [ ], and yet here in the U.S., it really hasn't touched anybody.”

BBC

CNN reports Turner made the same point more directly, saying it was “extraordinary” that the Epstein scandal “hasn’t touched anybody” in the U.S., while senior British figures had been “brought down” by the affair.

The Guardian adds that Turner told students it was “extraordinary” that the Epstein scandal “hasn’t touched anybody” in the US, while it had “brought down” Mandelson and “potentially the prime minister.”

Turner also speculated about Starmer’s future, with CNN saying Turner noted Starmer had been “on the ropes” for months because of his decision to appoint Mandelson as ambassador, and that Labour could “remove” Starmer after local elections in May.

The Guardian quotes Turner saying, “The moment I would look to is the May elections,” and adds, “If Labour does very badly … I suspect the party will be able to go over that threshold and remove him – seems to me to be the conventional thinking.”

BBC likewise reports Turner’s advice to his prime minister included, “I can’t just put my hands on my ears and say it’s special, it’s going to be fine,” and it also describes Turner’s broader remarks about accountability in the U.S.

British officials moved quickly to contain the damage by emphasizing that Turner’s remarks were private and informal.

CBS News reports that the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office said Turner's comments were “private, informal comments made to a group of U.K. sixth-form students visiting the U.S. in early February” and “They are certainly not any reflection of the UK Government's position.”

CNN likewise quotes a Foreign Office spokesperson saying Turner’s remarks were “private, informal comments” not intended to become public, and “They are certainly not any reflection of the UK Government’s position,” while CNN says it asked the British Embassy in Washington and Turner for comment.

The Guardian adds that after publication of the remarks on Tuesday, a Foreign Office spokesperson said: “These were private, informal comments made to a group of UK sixth-form students visiting the US in early February. They are certainly not any reflection of the UK government’s position.”

The BBC reports the same line from the UK Foreign Office, describing the comments as “private, informal comments” and “not any reflection” of the government’s position.

Politico frames the situation as a problem for London during a carefully prepared king’s visit, describing “months of careful preparation for the king’s visit” and “dismay in London” over Turner’s reported criticism.

The Hill adds that the king is set to address a joint meeting of Congress on Tuesday at “3 p.m. EDT,” placing the diplomatic dispute alongside the schedule of official engagements.

Different outlets emphasize different stakes in the same core incident, even while quoting the same remarks.

CNN highlights that Turner’s comments “could overshadow King Charles’ state visit,” and it ties the controversy to “cause for embarrassment for Downing Street” as the king’s trip unfolds under President Donald Trump.

BBC

The Guardian frames the episode as a direct challenge to Downing Street because it emerged “in the same week that the king is carrying out his state visit” and because Turner described Israel as having the “special relationship” with the White House.

BBC focuses on the content of Turner’s advice and the diplomatic context, quoting Turner’s line about not putting “my hands on my ears,” and it also includes commentary from former foreign secretary Jack Straw.

The Times emphasizes the leaked remarks’ timing “before the King met President Trump at the White House,” and it also highlights Turner’s criticism of the U.S. political system for failing to hold “very senior people” linked to Epstein to account.

Meanwhile, Middle East Eye and Washington Examiner both stress the strain in U.S.-U.K. ties, with Middle East Eye saying Turner’s remarks may be “a significant embarrassment” because UK-US ties are strained over Britain’s “initial reluctance” to be drawn into the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.

Politico, by contrast, centers the political consequences in London, describing “dismay” and reporting that Turner criticized the American political system for failing to hold U.S. associates of Epstein to account and made “indiscreet remarks” about Starmer’s future.

The leaked remarks are unfolding against a packed schedule of official U.S.-U.K. engagements and ongoing tensions tied to Iran and the Epstein fallout.

CNN reports that the remarks were first reported by the Financial Times on Tuesday, shortly before Charles and Queen Camilla were greeted by U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump at the White House.

CBS News

Politico describes King Charles III speaking after President Donald Trump at a state dinner, where Charles said, “Our people have fought and fallen together in defense of the values we cherish across the ocean and from coast to coast,” and it quotes Trump praising the defense relationship and saying the two nations share “unconquerable courage.”

The Hill says the king is set to address a joint meeting of Congress on Tuesday at “3 p.m. EDT,” and it places the ambassador’s comments “under the microscope this week amid King Charles III and Queen Camilla’s state visit to Washington.”

At the same time, CNN reports that Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California wrote a letter to the King requesting an in-person meeting with Epstein survivors, and CNN reports that “the King and Queen do not plan to accept that request during their visit.”

Middle East Eye adds that Turner’s remarks come as UK-US ties are strained over Britain’s initial reluctance to be drawn into the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, and it quotes Turner saying Britain must “work to redefine” its relationship with the U.S. rather than rely on an American security umbrella.

Looking forward, the political consequences in Britain are also tied to the May elections, with CNN reporting Turner said the Labour Party could “remove” Starmer after local elections in May, and with The Guardian quoting Turner that “The moment I would look to is the May elections.”