May flies to US amid anger over her embrace of Trump

LONDON: British Prime Minister Theresa May has won the race to be the first foreign leader to meet US President Donald Trump in Washington. But her trip to Washington is anything but a victory lap.

May’s staff worked feverishly to secure the two-day trip, which includes a meeting with the president on Friday at the White House.

British officials hope it will help cement the United Kingdom’s place as a pre-eminent American ally and provide proof of what Britons — more often than Americans — call the trans-Atlantic “special relationship.”

But May faces the challenge of persuading a president who has vowed to put “America first” of the benefits of free trade with Britain and the vital role of the 28-nation NATO military alliance.

And she must build a working relationship with a populist president whose protectionist outlook and loose way with facts have alarmed many European politicians, including some of May’s own allies.

May insists she’s up to the task of being America’s steadfast but plain-speaking friend, telling British lawmakers on Wednesday that “I am not afraid to speak frankly to a president of the United States.”

May’s seeming embrace of Trump — in the wake of his commitment to building a Mexico border wall and other recent edicts — drew criticism from the prime minister’s opponents.

Former Labour Party leader Ed Miliband tweeted: “Today he starts on wall, praises waterboarding, bullies climate scientists. She says they can lead together. Surely decent Tories feel queasy?”

May is likely to get a warm welcome at the Republican retreat and in the White House.

Trump has already pronounced Britain “very special!” in one of his tweets.