John Humphrys challenged by Labour MP Andy McDonald for claiming Donald Trump didn’t say he wanted NHS on the table ‘John, stop because that’s not true’ the shadow transport secretary said on the Today programme

Labour‘s Andy McDonald turned the tables on the BBC’s John Humphrys during a radio interview on Friday morning, after the veteran presenter claimed Donald Trump had not said the NHS would be “on the table” in any trade deal talks with America.



The shadow transport secretary clashed with Mr Humphrys on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme when he was questioned over how a future Labour government would deal with the president, given that Mr Trump said he refused to meet with Jeremy Corbyn during his state visit.

Mr Humphrys asked him: “Who are we going to turn to for our great trade deals? Because the relationship between Jeremy Corbyn and Donald Trump is pretty pathetic isn’t it?”

The MP for Middlesbrough responded: “Well, when you’re getting the president of the United States telling us the NHS is up for grabs and on the table…” before he was cut off by Mr Humphrys and the pair got into an awkward argument.

‘Hang on, he did’

“He didn’t say that but anyway, go on,” the host said, but the MP hit back saying: “Hang on, he did.”



During the state visit, the President said the “NHS or anything else” would be on the negotiating table as part of post-Brexit UK-US trade deal talks. But after furious backlash to the comments, Mr Trump backtracked on what he had said, claiming that the health service is “something I would not consider to be part of trade”.

Mr Humphrys tried to press ahead with his claim that Mr Trump had not said the NHS would be “on the table”, but was cut off by Mr McDonald, who said: “John, stop because that’s not true.”

The host then claimed he had been referring to Mr Trump’s second statement on the issue.

‘Everything’s on the table, that’s what he said’

Read More Former Tory Health Secretary warns US firms are targeting NHS in post-Brexit trade deal

The MP said: “So you’re admitting, accepting, that he did say – on that occasion – that the NHS is on the table? Everything’s ‘on the table’, that’s what he said trade is about. That’s what he said. Are we agreed he said that? Because he did say it, didn’t he?”The presenter then faltered as Mr McDonald pressed the point home: “He did say it, didn’t he?”

Mr Humphrys continued trying to dispute the point, saying: “Hang on, you know perfectly well what he said…”

But he was cut off again by Mr McDonald, who responded: “He said it. Don’t excuse the man.”

While Mr Humphrys argued that he was not trying to “excuse” Mr Trump, the MP hit back: “They’re after our NHS.”

The host said: “He said it, and then he denied it, you know what Donald Trump is like,” to which Mr McDonald replied: “’Course he denied it. The man’s out of control.”

Corbyn snub

Mr Corbyn addressed a protest against the US President on Tuesday only for Mr Trump to reveal in a press conference later that day that he had turned down a meeting with the Labour leader.

Mr Trump told reporters at the event at the Foreign Office: “He wanted to meet with me and I told him no.”

“I don’t know Jeremy Corbyn, never met him, never spoken to him. He wanted to meet today or tomorrow and I decided that I would not do that.

“I think that he is, from where I come from, somewhat of a negative force. I think that people should look to do things correctly as opposed to criticise.

“I really don’t like critics as much as I like and respect people that get things done, so I’ve decided not to meet.”

A Labour spokesperson said: “Jeremy Corbyn proposed a meeting with Donald Trump during the President’s visit. Jeremy is ready to engage with the President on a range of issues, including the climate emergency, threats to peace and the refugee crisis.“