Donald does Davos
President says talk of a rift with the UK is false as he praises his ‘really great relationship’ with Mrs May
PRESIDENT Donald Trump has confirmed his visit to Britain is back on for this year as he insisted that talk of a rift with Theresa May was a “false rumour”.
The President said he had a “great relationship” with Mrs May and that trade would “increase many times” after Brexit.
Earlier this month the President cancelled a planned visit to open the US Embassy in London, prompting speculation that he was riled by a rebuke from Mrs May over his apparent support of a Right-wing British group by reposting their videos on Twitter.
Mr Trump is also said to be concerned that he will face ugly protests in the capital after Labour MPS and Sadiq Khan, the London mayor, made it clear he was not welcome.
But as Mr Trump held a one-to-one meeting with Mrs May in Davos yesterday, he insisted he will make a visit in 2018, adding: “We love your country.”
Mrs May was one of the first world leaders to meet Mr Trump after he arrived at the World Economic Forum at the Swiss ski resort, and they discussed topics ranging from Iran and Syria to the US trade levy on Ulster-made Bombardier aircraft wings.
Mr Trump said: “We’ve had a great discussion – we’re on the same wavelength, I think, in every respect. And the Prime Minister and myself have had a really great relationship, although some people don’t necessary believe that, but I can tell you it’s true.
“I have tremendous respect for the Prime Minister and the job she’s doing. And I think the feeling is mutual from the standpoint of liking each other a lot. And uh, so it was a little bit of a false rumour out there, I just wanted to correct it, frankly, because we have great respect for everything you’re doing and we love your country.
“We think it’s really great, and we are working on transactions in terms of economic development, trade, maybe most importantly military.”
A senior Government source said Mr Trump was expected to visit in the second half of this year and “it’s clear that the President wants to come”.
Downing Street could not confirm whether it would be a full State visit or merely a working trip.
After the meeting, which lasted 30 to 40 minutes, Mr Trump said Britain and America were “joined at the hip when it comes to the military” and talked up the chances of a trade deal.
He said: “Trade is going to increase many times, and we look forward to that. The trade concepts and discussions... taking place are going to lead to tremendous increases in trade between our two countries which is great for both in terms of jobs.”
A Downing Street spokesman later said: “The prime minister updated the president on the good progress which had been made in the Brexit negotiations so far. The two leaders reiterated their desire for a strong trading relationship post-brexit, which would be in the interests of both countries.
“The PM and president concluded by asking officials to work together on finalising the details of a visit by the president to the UK later this year.”
Mrs May said there remained a “really special relationship” between the two countries because “We face the same challenges across the world, and as you say we’re willing to go and to defeat those challenges and meet them.”
Government sources later confirmed that Mr Trump’s visit would be a “working visit”. Mrs May’s invitation for a State visit still stands, meaning a ceremonial visit is likely to happen next year or in 2020. Mr Trump is expected to come to Britain in the late
summer, meaning that if he is to meet the Queen he would have to visit her at Balmoral.
Barack Obama met the Queen on all four occasions that he visited the UK as president, though only one of those was a State visit.