Despite saying the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom has "buffoon-like" qualities, Simon Bridges remains a fan.
Boris Johnson took over from Theresa May earlier this week, promising to sort out the Brexit mess.
"This is a guy who can be on, can be off - he's got that buffoon-like quality," Bridges said, going on to further describe Johnson as "mercurial", which means "subject to sudden or unpredictable changes of mood or mind".
It was a quip that made headlines - world leaders are usually very careful about how they describe their peers.
Bridges told Newshub Nation he had no regrets.
"There's two qualities I talked about ad infinitum - they were that one, that showmanship, that persona he has traded on as a journalist and a politician; but also a very intelligent man, a really impressive intellect."
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Bridges said Johnson might not have achieved what he has if wasn't a buffoon.
"It's those two things that is why he is now Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and why... if I were a Tory MP in the UK, I would have voted for him."
Newshub political editor told Bridges she's heard he can do a very good impression of the 55-year-old.
"You will never find out on air," he answered.
Newshub.
