UK in turmoil Trump claims as he snubs PM and backs Boris
US PRESIDENT Donald Trump dealt a humiliating blow to Theresa May yesterday by refusing to give the Prime Minister his backing, instead publicly supporting Boris Johnson after he resigned from the Government over Brexit policy.
Ahead of his first formal visit to Britain as US head of state, Mr Trump said Mrs May’s Government was in “turmoil” and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin may be less of a problem for him to deal with.
Mr Trump was speaking on the White House lawn ahead of travelling to a Nato summit in Brussels before coming to Britain on Friday.
He told journalists: “So I have Nato, I have the UK, which is in, somewhat, turmoil, and I have Putin. Frankly, Putin may be the easiest of them all.”
Asked about Mr Johnson who spectacularly resigned as foreign secretary, Mr Trump praised him as a “friend” and said he hopes to meet him on his visit to Britain even though he is no longer in the Government.
He said: “The UK certainly have a lot of things going on. Boris Johnson is a friend of mine. He has been very nice to me. Very supportive. Maybe we’ll speak to him when I get over there. I like Boris Johnson. I’ve always liked him.”
Asked whether Mrs May should continue as Prime Minister, Mr Trump said in what appeared to be a suggestion that she should hold an election over her controversial plans: “That is up to the people.”
However, he added that he had a “very good relationship” with Mrs May. The comments will be seen by many as an endorsement of Mr Johnson who is at the centre of speculation of an attempt to remove Mrs May from office as she tries to plough on with a weakened Cabinet having also lost her Brexit Secretary David Davis.
Supporters of Mr Trump have said he has been hurt by Mrs May’s refusal to support him in public despite his efforts to back Britain as it tries to make Brexit work.
He also reportedly described the Prime Minister as “school ma’amish”.
Last night Mrs May said she was “looking forward” to speaking with Mr Trump, adding: “We will be talking positively about how we can continue to work together in our special relationship for the good of people living in the UK and the United States and, actually, for the wider good.”
Mrs May has been strongly criticised over her plans for Brexit which influential Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg has claimed will leave Britain a vassal state to the EU. Mr Johnson said they will turn the UK into an EU colony.
Mr Trump has been a strong supporter of Brexit and Britain, offering a quick free trade deal. But Mrs May’s plans for Brexit would tie Britain to the EU by having a common rulebook on goods making it almost impossible to have a free trade deal with the US or other countries.