After publicly assailing British Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit strategy, President Donald Trump insisted Friday that the US-UK relationship is “very, very strong.”…
After publicly assailing British Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit strategy, President Donald Trump insisted Friday that the US-UK relationship is “very, very strong.”
In an explosive interview in The Sun hours earlier, the president criticized May’s plan to leave the European Union, saying it had likely squashed hopes of a trade deal between the two countries after she failed to take his advice on how to negotiate.
“We had a dinner where it was probably [we have] never developed a better relationship than last night. We spoke for an hour, an hour and a half. And it was really something,” Trump said as he sat next to May at her official Chequers residence.
“And today we’re talking trade, we’re talking military. We looked at some incredible anti-terrorism things that are being done here in conjunction with the United States,” he said, according to The Guardian.
“And the relationship is very, very strong. We have a very good relationship,” he continued. “Right now, we’re going to be talking about some other things that are taking place in the Middle East and elsewhere.”
When Trump stepped out of his limo earlier and was greeted by May, he ignored reporters asking him whether he regretted his comments to The Sun .
And when a reporter asked him the same question while he sat next to her, Trump shook his head, rolled his eyes and turned to his aides with a look of irritation. May looked toward him after he declined to answer, according to CNN.
When asked if they had discussed the incendiary interview, May said, “We’ve got a lot to discuss,” adding that they would talk about the special relationship between the two countries as well opportunities for a trade deal.
She also said Trump “did a very good job at NATO” while Trump said the two “worked very hard together at NATO.”
After the contentious NATO summit in Brussels, Trump said he secured a commitment from allies to significantly boost their share of defense spending.
In 2014, members agreed to increase their share to 2 percent of their gross domestic product by 2024. Neither Trump nor NATO offered specifics on what he said he had achieved at the summit.
French President Emmanuel Macron quickly disputed Trump’s claim that the allies had agreed to increase defense spending beyond their existing goal by 2024.
May’s spokeswoman said the prime minister has a good relationship with Trump and is confident a trade deal can be reached with the US.
“Trade is one of the top items for discussions between the president and the PM today and… we are confident that we can do a good trade deal with the US,” the spokeswoman told reporters.
Trump and May also viewed a joint military formation at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, though Trump’s visit to the academy was closed to the media.
Meanwhile, first lady Melania Trump visited the Royal Hospital Chelsea, a historic London retirement home for hundreds of former British soldiers.
She split off from her husband Friday morning for the solo outing — hosted by May’s husband, Philip May — to the hospital, which dates to the reign of King Charles II over 300 years ago.
With Post wires
