Trump changes tune
U.S. president pulls diplomatic backflip, praising May after previous barbs
President Donald Trump pulled off a diplomatic backflip Friday, reversing himself on trade, Brexit and his critical assessment of British Prime Minister Theresa May while insisting the U.S.-U.K. relationship is “the highest level of special.” Just days after lobbing thunderous broadsides at his British hosts, Trump was on his best behaviour as he capped his tumultuous two-day visit to the U.K. by dropping by Windsor Castle for tea with the queen.
Trump’s pomp-filled visit to the United Kingdom has been overshadowed by massive protests and an explosive interview in The Sun in which he blasted May, blamed London’s mayor for terror attacks against the city and argued that Europe was “losing its culture” because of immigration.
The president who prides himself on not saying he’s sorry did his own version of backtracking at a news conference with May by finding a way to blame his favourite foil for any perceived friction with May, whom he lavished with praise on the heels of questioning her leadership.
“I didn’t criticize the prime minister. I have a lot of respect for the prime minister,” said Trump. He blamed the newspaper for skipping over his praise of May in a piece that was published Thursday just as the prime minster played host to Trump at an opulent welcome dinner at a country palace.
The president then urged reporters to listen to a full recording of the interview, which he said would give the full picture. But the audio was already posted on The Sun’s website and undermined Trump’s contention it would back him up.
The interview was the latest breach of diplomatic protocol by Trump, whose predecessors tended to avoid criticizing their foreign hosts. And it comes at a perilous time for May, whose government is teetering amid contentious negotiations on how the U.K. will leave the European Union.
“Well, I think the deal that she is striking is not what the people voted on,” Trump said in the interview. He also praised one of May’s political rivals, former foreign secretary Boris Johnson. He furiously backpedaled away the comments on Friday, saying of May’s Brexit talks: “Whatever you’re going to do is OK with us. Just make sure we can trade together. That’s all that matters.”
May, for her part, praised the strength of the U.S.-U.K. bond. But in a gentle rebuke, said: “It is all of our responsibility to ensure that trans-Atlantic unity endures.”