Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May and U.S. President Donald Trump
British Prime Minister Theresa May on Sunday said U.S. President Donald Trump had previously advised her to sue the European Union as part of her Brexit strategy, revealing a piece of advice Trump said last week she had ignored.
"He told me I should sue the EU," May told BBC television. "Sue the EU. Not go into negotiations - sue them."
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday he looked forward to finalising a post-Brexit trade deal with Britain, marking an abrupt change from a newspaper interview when he said Prime Minister Theresa May's strategy would kill such an agreement.In an interview published just hours before the two leaders held talks, Trump chided the "very unfortunate" results of the prime minister's proposals for Brexit and her negotiating tactics as Britain prepares to leaves the European Union in March next year.However, Trump later said May was doing a "fantastic job"."Once the Brexit process is concluded and perhaps the UK has left the EU, I don't know what they're going to do but whatever you do is OK with me, that's your decision," Trump told a press conference with May in the garden of her official country residence Chequers.Trump says relationship with UK is 'very, very strong'"Whatever you do is OK with us, just make sure we can trade together, that's all that matters. This is an incredible opportunity for our two countries and we will seize it fully."Last week at the same location, May finally won agreement for her Brexit plans from her cabinet but within days two senior ministers had quit, departures which Trump said earlier in the week had left Britain in turmoil.Hours after those proposals were formally published, Trump cast further doubt on the strategy, delivering a withering verdict in an interview with the Sun newspaper."If they do a deal like that, we would be dealing with the European Union instead of dealing with the UK, so it will probably kill the deal," Trump said. "I would have done it much differently. I actually told Theresa May how to do it, but she didn't listen to me."'Where are your manners, Mr President?' asks UK minister after May criticismAsked about that interview, Trump said he did not criticise the prime minister and was gushing in his praise of his host, saying she was tough and capable."This incredible woman right here is doing a fantastic job, a great job," he said. "Unfortunately, there was a story that was done which was generally fine but it didn't put in what I said about the prime minister and I said a tremendous thing. It's called fake news.""HIGHEST LEVEL OF SPECIAL"May, likewise, glossed over the comments."We agreed today that as the UK leaves the European Union we will pursue an ambitious U.S.-UK free trade agreement," she said. "The Chequers agreement reached last week provides the platform for Donald and me to pursue an ambitious deal that works for both countries right across our economies."'May and Trump will have positive trade discussion'May and Trump both spoke of the importance of the "special relationship" between their two countries, something that Brexit supporters hope will reap benefits when Britain leaves the EU, allowing it to forge closer trade ties with the world's biggest economy."I would say I would give our relationship in terms of grade the highest level of special," Trump said.However, many have cast May's "business-friendly" plan as a betrayal that would leave Britain too close to the EU, including lawmakers in her deeply divided Conservative Party who have warned that she might face a leadership challenge.During the press conference, May also thanked Trump for his support over Russia which Britain has blamed for a nerve agent attack on a former Russian spy in southwest England in March.Trump says May's Brexit plan kills hope of a US trade dealTrump is due to meet Putin, who has rejected the nerve agent claims, at a summit when he finishes his four-day visit to Britain, and said he would raise the issue of reducing nuclear weapons."It will certainly be something that we bring up and talk about," the U.S. president said.As Trump and May spoke, thousands of protesters marched against the president through central London, one of more than 100 demonstrations planned against the president during his stay.While Trump's trip was not a full state visit, he has been given red carpet treatment and is scheduled to have tea later with Queen Elizabeth at Windsor Castle, where her grandson Prince Harry married U.S. actress Meghan Markle in May.
UK PM May doing 'fantastic' job on Brexit, says Trump, promising trade deal
After publicly criticising British Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit strategy, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that the relationship was "very, very strong."Trump directly criticised May's plans to leave the EU in an interview with the Sun newspaper, saying it had probably killed off hope of a U.S.-British trade deal after she failed to take his advice on how to negotiate.Trump, sat next to May at her official country residence at Chequers on Friday, said we "really have a very good relationship," and would discuss trade, the military and other matters over lunch.'Where are your manners, Mr President?' asks UK minister after May criticismAsked by a U.S. reporter if he regretted his comments to the Sun, Trump looked away, shook his head and pointed at the reporter.When asked if they had discussed the interview, May said: "We've got a lot to discuss," adding that they would talk about the so-called special relationship between the United States and United Kingdom as well as the real opportunities for a trade deal.Trump opponents inflate snarling orange 'Trump baby' blimp beside British parliamentTrump says May's Brexit plan kills hope of a US trade deal
Trump says relationship with UK is 'very, very strong'