Trump's UK Ambassador Accused Of Making Racist, Sexist Comments, CNN Reports

NFL owner Robert "Woody" Johnson has been accused of making racist and sexist comments to staff while serving as President Donald Trump’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, according to a report by CNN. The billionaire and Johnson & Johnson heir was investigated by the State Department watchdog.

Five sources with knowledge of the situation told CNN that the State Department started looking into the embassy and Johnson in the fall of 2019. Three sources and a diplomat with knowledge of the complaints to the State Department inspector general informed CNN during its investigation that Johnson’s remarks included stereotypes about Black men.

Johnson did not deny the allegations when asked about them by CNN. He called his role as ambassador the “honor of a lifetime.”

But a diplomat familiar with the complaints told CNN: “He’s said some pretty sexist, racist things.”

Johnson bought the New York Jets in 2000 and handed over day-to-day control of the organization to his brother, Christopher Johnson, after accepting the role in the Trump administration in August 2017.

The report notes several specific comments Johnson allegedly made ahead of a Black History Month event in 2018. He reportedly wondered why Black History Month is celebrated, asked if there would be “a whole bunch of Black people” at the event and said the “real challenge” for Black people was that Black fathers didn’t stay with their families.

Johnson was accused of making “cringeworthy” comments about women’s looks and remarks about the way women in the embassy were dressed. Johnson reportedly used to hold meetings at a men’s-only club in London where female diplomats couldn’t attend.

Complaints also have been made that Johnson complimented the appearances of female employees during staff meetings, according to The New York Times.

“We stand by Ambassador Johnson and look forward to him continuing to ensure our special relationship with the UK is strong,” a State Department spokesperson told CNN.

The investigation into Johnson involved allegations that he tried to steer The Open Championship, one of the PGA Tour’s four major tournaments, to the Trump Turnberry resort in Scotland. Six months after becoming the U.K. ambassador, Johnson told colleagues that Trump asked him to see if the British government could get The Open to his golf course, according to The New York Times.

The Open hasn’t been held at Trump Turnberry, and the next four Opens are scheduled to be played elsewhere. The Royal St George's Golf Club was set to host the 2020 Open before it was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The British government said in a statement that Johnson never made an official inquiry about Trump Turnberry hosting The Open.