New Zealand's High Commissioner to the UK, Phil Goff, was fired after questioning Donald Trump's understanding of history during a public event.

New Zealand’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Phil Goff, has been dismissed following remarks he made about former U.S. President Donald Trump during a discussion at Chatham House, an international affairs think tank, in London on Tuesday.

During the event, Goff questioned Trump's grasp of history while referencing a famous speech by British wartime leader Sir Winston Churchill in 1938. At the time, Churchill, then an MP in Neville Chamberlain’s government, criticized Britain’s signing of the Munich Agreement, which allowed Adolf Hitler to annex part of Czechoslovakia.

Quoting Churchill’s words to Chamberlain, Goff said, "You had the choice between war and dishonour. You chose dishonour, yet you will have war." He then added, "President Trump has restored the bust of Churchill to the Oval Office. But do you think he really understands history?"

The question was directed at Finland’s foreign minister, Elina Valtonen, who was a guest speaker at the event. As the audience laughed, Valtonen responded carefully, stating that Churchill had "made very timeless remarks" but did not directly address Goff’s question.

Following the incident, New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters expressed disappointment, stating that Goff’s remarks made his position as the country’s most senior diplomat in Britain "untenable."

"When you are in that position, you represent the government and the policies of the day," Peters told reporters. "You're not able to free-think; you are the face of New Zealand."

Peters confirmed that he had asked the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Bede Corry, to oversee the transition of leadership at the New Zealand High Commission in London. A written statement from officials confirmed that discussions were underway regarding Goff’s return to New Zealand.

Goff has been serving as New Zealand’s envoy to the UK since January 2023. He has not responded to requests for comment on his dismissal.

Meanwhile, former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, who was Goff’s superior during his tenure as a minister, criticized his removal. She described the decision as "a very thin excuse" for ousting a "highly respected" former foreign minister from his diplomatic post.