Anna Wintour denies claim in explosive Trump book she asked to be made US ambassador to UK

A bombshell book about the Trump presidency claims Vogue editor Anna Wintour asked Trump to be made the US ambassador to the UK.
But a spokesperson for legendary fashion industry figure denied the claim, calling it "preposterous."
A number of details in the new book, written by journalist Michael Wolff, have been disputed.

A spokesperson for Anna Wintour denied a claim in an explosive new book that she asked President Donald Trump to be made the US's next ambassador to the United Kingdom.

In "Fire and Fury," an upcoming book about Trump's shock election and life in the White House, journalist Michael Wolff wrote that the legendary fashion editor and longtime Democrat had approached the then-president-elect at his Trump Tower property in New York. She "suggested that she become Trump's ambassador to the Court of St. James's" — the official title for the US ambassador to the UK — the book said.

A representative for the Vogue editor disputed the book's claims.

"I think it's pretty clear where Anna stands politically, which makes this laughably preposterous," the representative told Business Insider.

Wolff's book has caused a firestorm of controversy since excerpts and highlights began to emerge earlier this week. Breitbart chair Steve Bannon, the former White House chief strategist and head of the Trump campaign, is quoted as excoriating members of Trump's family — prompting the president to respond furiously that Bannon has "lost his mind."

But it has also come under criticism, and some details have been disputed. Tony Blair, the former Prime Minister of the UK, flatly denied the claim that he told Trump's team about a rumour that UK intelligence services were spying on him during the presidential campaign. And Trump is quoted as responding incredulously when former House Speaker John Boehner was suggested as a potential chief of staff, when the pair have golfed together and Trump mentioned him multiple times while campaigning.

"Fire and Fury" was originally due to be published next week, but after Trump's lawyers sent a cease-and-desist letter to the publishers threatening legal action its release date has been moved up to Friday. Business Insider has obtained a copy of the book ahead of publication.

For years, there were rumours that Wintour was angling to be made ambassador to the UK by Barack Obama while he was president, though it never came to fruition.

"When that didn't happen, [Wintour] closely aligned herself with Hillary Clinton," Wolff wrote.

But following the former secretary of state's defeat in the November 2016 presidential election, the editor tried to persuade Trump anyway, the book said.

"And Trump was inclined to entertain the idea," Wolff added. But, he quotes Steve Bannon, "fortunately ... there was no chemistry."

In December 2017, Trump publicly attacked Wintour on Twitter following a controversy over a video made by Vanity Fair (which is owned by Condé Nast, where Wintour is artistic director) that was critical of Hillary Clinton.

"Vanity Fair, which looks like it is on its last legs, is bending over backwards in apologizing for the minor hit they took at Crooked H [Hillary Clinton]," Trump tweeted.

"Anna Wintour, who was all set to be Amb to Court of St James’s & a big fundraiser for CH [Crooked Hillary], is beside herself in grief & begging for forgiveness!" he wrote.

Anna Wintour denies claim in explosive Trump book she asked to be made US ambassador to UK

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