#Woody Johnson, Trump’s ambassador to UK, probed over sexist, racist remarks

Ambassador Woody Johnson
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Robert Wood “Woody” Johnson, owner of the NFL’s New York Jets, who has served as the top envoy to the United Kingdom since August 2017, allegedly made offensive remarks about black men and women and became agitated when the embassy held an event marking Black History Month in 2018, multiple sources told CNN.

“He’s said some pretty sexist, racist [things],” one diplomat with knowledge of the situation told the cable news channel.

Diplomats reportedly told investigators with the State Department inspector general’s office that Johnson griped in 2018 over an event at the embassy celebrating Black History Month, asking if the audience would be “a whole bunch of black people.”

Staff at the embassy also told the IG that Johnson reportedly claimed that black fathers leaving their children was the “real challenge.”

The billionaire heir to the Johnson & Johnson fortune was equally disinterested in hosting events for International Women’s Day or marking gender-based violence, saying he didn’t care because he is “not a woman,” the report alleges.

Other sources who worked in Johnson’s office told CNN he repeatedly made “cringeworthy” comments about women he found attractive and said he preferred to hire women because they were cheaper and worked harder.

The allegations have come to light during Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s visit to London where he reportedly attended a dinner with Johnson on Tuesday evening.

According to the report, State Department investigators began reviewing the allegations in fall of 2019 and staff from the inspector general’s office have flown to London multiple times to interview staff and Johnson himself.

It is unclear if the investigation is ongoing.

Johnson, 73, also allegedly pushed to have the British Open, the venerated golf tournament, relocated to Trump’s golf resort in Scotland after being asked to do so by the president himself in 2018, multiple sources told CNN.

President Trump (right) and Ambassador Woody Johnson

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President Trump and first lady Melania Trump host a dinner at Winfield House for Prince Charles and Camilla (second from left) with US Ambassador to the UK Woody Johnson (left) and his wife, Suzanne Ircha, in 2019.

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Woody Johnson

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Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, walks with Woody Johnson.

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Ambassador Woody Johnson (left) and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo

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Ambassador Woody Johnson

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Sources familiar with the conversation said Johnson returned to London after a meeting with Trump in Washington and told his deputy Lewis Lukens that the president wanted to host the tournament at his Turnburry resort and asked which British officials could make it happen, the report said.

When contacted by CNN, Johnson did not deny the claims. A spokesperson for the State Department told the network, “We stand by Ambassador Johnson and look forward to him continuing to ensure our special relationship with the UK is strong.”