Trump in attack mode
US PRESIDENT: TAKES AIM AT LONDON MAYOR, LAMBASTES BREXIT STRATEGY Thinks Boris Johnson would be a great British PM.
US President Donald Trump said yesterday his relationship with Prime Minister Theresa May was “very, very strong” after launching an extraordinary attack on her Brexit plan during a visit to Britain.
Speaking at the prime minister’s country retreat of Chequers, Trump said: “The relationship is very, very strong. We really have a very good relationship.”
But May’s plan for Brexit would “probably kill” the prospects for a free trade deal with the US, he said in an interview with The Sun.
“If they do a deal like that, we’d be dealing with the European Union instead of dealing with the UK, so it will probably kill the deal,” said Trump, who began a four-day visit to Britain on Thursday.
In extraordinary comments on British politics, Trump also said former foreign minister Boris Johnson, who resigned this week over the Brexit plan and is seen as a challenger to May, would make “a great prime minister”.
He added that London mayor Sadiq Khan, who authorised protesters to raise a giant balloon showing a nappy-wearing Trump next to the British parliament yesterday, was doing a “terrible job” in fighting crime.
Trump told The Sun, Britain’s best-selling tabloid, he would have gone about Brexit in a different way. “I would have done it much differently. I actually told Theresa May how to do it but she didn’t agree, she didn’t listen. She wanted to go a different route.
“I would actually say that she probably went the opposite way. And that is fine. She should negotiate the best way she knows how.”
Referring to the plan outlined on Thursday, in which Britain would aim to keep strong ties in trading of goods with the EU, he said: “The deal she is striking is a much different deal than the one the people voted on.”
May is facing a rebellion by Brexit hardliners over the proposals, including the resignation of Johnson and Brexit minister David Davis.
Asked about Johnson, Trump said: “I was very saddened to see he was leaving government and I hope he goes back in at some point. I think he is a great representative for your country.
“I think he would be a great prime minister. I think he’s got what it takes.”
Asked about Khan, a member of the opposition Labour Party, Trump was highly critical of him.
“Take a look at the terrorism that is taking place. Look at what is going on in London. I think he has done a very bad job on terrorism,” he said.
“I think he has done a bad job on crime, if you look, all of the horrible things going on there, with all of the crime that is being brought in.”
Referring to planned protests yesterday, Trump added: “I think [Khan] has not been hospitable to a government that is very important. Now, he might not like the current president, but I represent the United States”. – AFP