Are you sure you haven’t met Michael Gove, Don?
secured the first UK interview with the newly elected President in Trump Tower, Mr Trump couldn’t place him. “I don’t know Michael,” he said. After days of speculation Mr Johnson opted not to meet Mr Trump in favour of a Tory leadership hustings with MPs.
The pair had a “friendly and productive” 20-minute call on Monday night.
A Boris source said: “Trump called Boris and offered a one-to-one meeting.
“Boris thanked him but declined the invitation as he has to focus on the hustings event that was happening at the same time, which the President understood. He said he looked forward to catching up at a later date.”
Fellow candidate Rory Stewart mockingly offered to exchange slots.
He said: “Very happy to swap so he can go and see Donald Trump – have a great meeting. My slot was at six on Monday and you’re welcome to it.”
The President is understood to be meeting Mr Hunt in Portsmouth today. A source close to Environment Secretary Mr Gove claimed to the Mirror Mr Trump’s team asked for a meeting at the State banquet on Monday night. They said: “Nothing has been fixed yet.”
Yesterday there was outrage as the first event to help pick the next Prime Minister took place behind closed doors.
Mrs May finally steps down as leader of the party on Friday, and candidates started making their pitches to “One Nation” centrist Tory MPs last night.
Mr Johnson warned they were facing a crisis which could mean the “extinction of this great party”.
He ruled out a snap election, but said: “We must get ready to beat Jeremy Corbyn and put Farage back in his box.”
He added: “I believe I am best placed to lift this party, beat Jeremy Corbyn and excite people about Conservative values.” Home Secretary Sajid Javid won applause for saying he would not enter electoral agreements with Mr Farage.
He said: “We will not beat the Brexit party by becoming the Brexit Party.”
Mr Javid, who would be the first British Asian PM, said he was not from “Conservative central casting”, adding: “If we don’t look like change, voters will go for change in the form of Corbyn.” Andrea Leadsom also spoke. Dominic Raab, Jeremy Hunt, Michael Gove and Matt Hancock address the MPs today.
Two candidates, Brexit Minister James Cleverly and Housing Minister Kit Malthouse, left the race as rules were changed to quickly knock out no-hopers.
Candidates will now need the backing of 16 MPs in the first ballot on Thursday June 13 and 32 MPs in the second on June 18 in order to progress. Further votes are scheduled for June 19 and 20.
Once MPs have chosen the final two, the 150,000 members will choose the new leader in a postal vote through July.
Last night Downing Street sources suggested the US delegation tipped off the PM that Mr Trump was planning to meet her would-be successors.
They also hinted the PM knew that talks with Mr Farage were on the cards.