Controversial British media personality Katie Hopkins has been labelled an "idiot" and "publicity seeker" by the Finance Minister for her comments on Jacinda Ardern following the Sri Lanka bombings.
On Sunday, Hopkins tweeted that she expected the Prime Minister to "be dressed as the Pope, ringing church bells across New Zealand and praying in Latin in Parliament by noon".
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The comments are a reference to criticism of Ardern for donning a hijab following the Christchurch mosque attacks on March 15.
The tweet wasn't well received online, with some users telling Hopkins to "piss off" while others were confused if she thought Ardern was also the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka.
"Whatever the Prime Minister does will be immeasurably more welcome and useful than anything you have ever said," said one Twitter user, while another said: "Oh, is our PM the leader of Sri Lanka too? Do you regard her as leader of the world?"
Finance Minister Grant Robertson had similar thoughts, telling The AM Show that "she is an idiot".
"I am not sure if she thinks that Jacinda is the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka as well as the Prime Minister of New Zealand.
"Katie Hopkins is a publicity seeker, and I hope that's the last time I say her name on TV."
He also defended Ardern's actions following the Christchurch shooting.
"The fact is, it doesn't matter to me whether you are worshiping in a mosque or worshipping in a catholic church. You have a right to be able to do that and express your faith.
"In New Zealand, it was a mosque and I think the Prime Minister behaved completely appropriately in those circumstances, and we have expressed our devastation at what's happened."
But Hopkins did have some supporters, with one user saying it was "immediate thought as well" and another questioning if the Sri Lanka attacks would receive the same level of coverage as the Christchurch shooting.
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