Conservative leadership candidate Jeremy Hunt speaks as he attends a Telegraph Q&A event in London, Britain July 8, 2019. Paul Grover/Pool via REUTERS

LONDON (Reuters) - British foreign minister Jeremy Hunt, one of the two contenders to become prime minister, challenged U.S. President Donald Trump over his criticisms of the British ambassador to Washington whose confidential comments on Trump were leaked.

“@realDonaldTrump friends speak frankly so I will: these comments are disrespectful and wrong to our Prime Minister and my country,” Hunt said on Twitter on Tuesday. “Your diplomats give their private opinions to @SecPompeo and so do ours!”

Hunt said if he becomes Prime Minister, the ambassador, Kim Darroch, would remain in his post.