TRUMP’S LOVE
DONALD Trump told Theresa May, “I want us to be closer than Reagan and Thatcher” as the two leaders shared an intimate lunch.
During a dinner of braised beef and iceberg salad, the new US President also promised to meet the Prime Minister again when he visits Britain this summer – even before he sees the Queen.
The two leaders then agreed to defy Brussels and strike an early trade deal ahead of the UK’s departure from the EU.
When the hour-long meal in the White House’s state dining room was over, an emotional Mr Trump took a menu card as a special memento to cherish.
A Downing Street source gushed: “The conversation was warm, free-flowing and unscripted. At the end of the lunch, he said he always keeps menu cards to remember significant moments.
“He gave the menu card to one of his staff and said, ‘ Keep that safe, I just had lunch with the British Prime Minister’.”
Earlier Mr Trump took Mrs May’s hand and strolled with her along a White House colonnade in pictures beamed around the world on Friday night. The PM’s spokesman claimed it was a “chivalrous” gesture.
She said: “There was an unseen ramp. He offered his hand, which she took as they stepped down.”
A source claimed Mr Trump suffers from bathmophobia – fear of slopes or stairs – and instinctively put out his hand. Full details of the love-in emerged yesterday as Mrs May flew to Ankara from Washington DC to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Aides told how the PM and President Trump had dined together the day before.
“They talked a lot about Thatcher and Reagan,” a No10 source revealed.
“Both agreed it was one of the most successful political relationships ever.
“They referred to the time Thatcher took over Britain and the large challenges that she faced, and agreed that they had a shared admiration for her. Trump went on to say he always looked up to Reagan, and said he wanted their relationship to be even better than that one.”
Mr Trump also said he was “thrilled” to be offered a state visit to Britain by the Queen – but made clear his priority was seeing Mrs May first. The spokesman added: “He said he thought it was very important that he saw her first in terms of global leaders on becoming President.
“And then he said – when I come to the UK, I want to see you first.”
The two leaders then agreed to a Trading Negotiation Agreement to begin high-level talks immediately – despite EU rules banning all negotiations until after Brexit.
The move will anger European leaders and critics who claim Mrs May is getting too close to the controversial US President.
Mrs May said: “This is the first step leading to a future trade deal with the US which could provide huge benefits to our economic muscle.”
No10 insisted the agreement was within the letter of EU law as it only paves the way for a full trade deal after Brexit.
A source said: “While we remain members of the EU we can’t sign a free trade agreement – but there are other steps we can take. You can remove nontrade tariffs to goods, using the ability of workers to work in the UK and the US, action on roaming charges, things like that to make business easier.” The only sour note for Mrs May was her failure to win the President round on Vladimir Putin.
She has been pressing Mr Trump to keep up the press sure on Russia following i its annexation of U Ukraine in 2014. But a s source said: “He said he u understood her posit tion and pointed out he h hadn’t yet met Putin b but would be talking to h him today.”
Mrs May was also e embarrassed when the P President asked for a s second opinion on B Brexit, having already heard Nigel Farage’s account.
The PM told him the Brexit vote was driven by “people who felt they’d been left behind”. An insider said: “He responded, saying he cares for those people too.”
Last night Labour Shadow Cabinet minister Andrew Gwynne described Mrs May as a “loved-up lapdog”. He said: “It’s not so much a match made from dreams but the stuff of garish nightmares.
“Donald Trump is already heading into the most oppressive and extreme presidency in living memory, with our Prime Minister publicly holding his hand in evoking discriminatory laws. At this crucial time the White House needs a critical friend, not a loved-up lapdog.”
At this crucial time, the White House needs a critical friend, not a loved-up lapdog ANDREW GWYNNE ON THERESA MAY’S FAWNING OVER PRESIDENT TRUMP