Trump hails ties with UK despite Brexit criticism

Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May (R) and US President Donald Trump prior to a meeting at Chequers

UNITED KINGDOM (AFP): US President Donald Trump said yesterday that ties between Britain and the US were “very very strong” after launching an extraordinary attack on Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit strategy during a visit already marked by protests.

Sitting alongside his host at the start of talks at May’s country retreat of Chequers, Trump told reporters: “The relationship is very, very strong. We really have a very good relationship.”

Their meeting came just hours after an interview was published in which Trump said May’s plans for close future ties with the European Union would “probably kill” her hopes for a US trade deal.

He suggested this was not what voters wanted, said he had advised May to take another path and added that Boris Johnson, who quit as foreign minister over the plan, would make “a great prime minister”.

Trump’s comments saw the value of the pound plunge on currency markets.Trump said yesterday at Blenheim Palace the night before he and May spoke for almost 90 minutes and had “probably never developed a better relationship”.

The Prime Minister smiled and said there was “a lot to discuss”, including “the special relationship, which is great, between the UK and US”. She said they would discuss “the real opportunities” on a US trade deal, as well as foreign, defence and security issues “where we work really closely together”.