Fiona Hill, former chief advisor to UK Prime Minister Theresa May, revealed that May refused to provide her personal phone number to US President Donald Trump during her premiership. This incident occurred in 2016-2017 when May was residing at 10 Downing Street during Trump's first presidential term. Despite public mutual praise and the so-called 'special relationship' between the UK and the US, the situation behind closed doors was different. Hill confirmed that May ignored Trump's request for her number and refused to comply. In an interview with BBC Radio 4's 'Today' programme, Fiona Hill said: 'He actually asked for her number, but Theresa, as was her way, refused to give it to him,' indicating May's cautious and formal approach to political relations. This revelation came in a broader context following Trump's publication of private messages received from several world leaders. These communications included exchanges with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. The published letters included exaggerated praise from Rutte for Trump's role in Middle East and Ukraine affairs, as well as an invitation from Macron for dinner in Paris. In this context, Sam White, former chief of staff to Labour leader Keir Starmer and a former advisor to Chancellor Alistair Darling, explained why world leaders felt the need for a 'direct channel of communication' with Trump. White told BBC Radio 4 that Trump, by nature, makes decisions individually, and while agreements can be reached with his aides, they may not be aware of his actual thoughts. He added that this reality drives some world leaders to consider communicating with him directly through less formal channels than official calls attended by numerous officials and with detailed notes. White also noted that Trump prefers flattery in such communications, but this type of rhetoric does not resonate with domestic voters, especially when accompanied by what has been described as vulgar language. Sam White provided another example from his political experience, revealing that former French Foreign Minister Christine Lagarde, during the global financial crisis, inundated then-Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling with a large number of text messages. White recalled this period from around 2007 to 2008, when Lagarde managed to obtain Darling's phone number and began sending him continuous messages to the point where he once wondered if it would be better for him to change his number.
