Our relationship? It’s the highest level of special, insists Trump
Chequers charm offensive sees president lavish praise on Theresa May and apologise for comments on Brexit blueprint ‘killing’ US trade deal
DONALD TRUMP praised the relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States as the “highest level of special” yesterday as he attempted to make amends for a critical newspaper interview that overshadowed his visit.
Appearing with Theresa May at a joint press conference in the gardens of Chequers, her country house, the US president repeatedly complimented the Prime Minister on her leadership.
He walked back some comments he made in an interview with The Sun, including a claim that Mrs May’s new Brexit approach would “kill” the chance of a trade deal with the US.
And the president dismissed concerns that the so-called “special relationship” between Britain and America had been damaged during his presidency.
“I would say I give our relationship, in terms of grade, the highest level of special,” Mr Trump said.
And to laughter from Mrs May, he added: “Am I allowed to go higher than that?
“I’m not sure. But it’s the highest level of special. They are very special people. It’s a very special country.”
Over 50 minutes of comments on an unusually hot July afternoon, the leaders made a string of headlines.
Trade deal back on
Mr Trump rowed back on his claim in an interview in The Sun newspaper that Mrs May’s Chequers Brexit plan would “probably kill” the chance of a US-UK trade deal.
In prepared remarks at the start of the press conference, the president talked up the importance of “fair and reciprocal trade”.
He said: “The United States looks forward to finalising a great bilateral trade agreement with the United Kingdom.
“This is an incredible opportunity for our two countries and we will seize it fully.”
Mr Trump also said of Mrs May’s Brexit strategy: “I don’t know what they’re going to do but whatever you do is OK with me. That’s your decision.
“Whatever you’re going to do is OK with us, just make sure we can trade together, that’s all that matters”.
Explaining the difference between his remarks in the interview on Thursday and in public yesterday, Mr Trump said he had initially read news reports that a trade deal could not happen under Mrs May’s new plan.
But he said that he had been talked through the specifics by Mrs May’s advisers subsequently and now understood that was not the case.
The UK and the US are not able to negotiate or sign a free trade deal until Britain has formally left the European Union in March 2019.
Differing opinions on migration
Mr Trump and Mrs May made markedly different comments about the impact of immigration on Europe when prompted by a question.
Mr Trump said: “I think it has been very bad for Europe. Europe is a place I know very well and I think that what has happened is very tough. It’s a very tough situation. I mean, you see the same terror attacks that I do. We see them a lot. I just think it’s changing the culture. It’s a very negative thing for Europe.”
The US president singled out Germany, saying that – while it was not “politically correct” to admit it – he feared security was being undermined by immigration.
But Mrs May, speaking straight after the president, defended the impact that immigration has had on Britain, while also calling for more control over numbers.
She said: “The UK has a proud history of welcoming people who are fleeing persecution to our country.
“We have a proud history of welcoming people who want to come to our country, to contribute to our economy and contribute to our society.
“And over the years, overall, immigration has been good for the UK. What is important is that we have control of our borders.”
Apology over interview
Mr Trump had begun his meeting at Chequers by apologising to Mrs May for his interview that appeared in The Sun, in which he had said that her Brexit deal would “kill” the chance of a trade deal with the US.
“She’s a total professional. I saw her this morning and said I wanted to apologise because I said such good things about you. She said, ‘Don’t worry, it’s only the press’. I thought that was very professional.
“I didn’t criticise the Prime Minister. I have a lot of respect for the Prime Minister, and unfortunately there was a story that was done, which was generally fine, but it didn’t put in what I said about the Prime Minister.
“We tend to record everything – fake news – we solve a lot of problems with a recording.”
When The Sun’s reporter protested during the press conference that his compliments about the Prime Minister had in fact been included in its reporting, he said: “Where? On the internet?” and he suggested they should have been in the headline of the story.
Putin to be challenged on meddling
Mr Trump said he would raise the issue of interference in US elections when he met Vladimir Putin on Monday but was not holding out for a confession.
He said he had been “very tough” on Russia and would “absolutely” and “firmly” confront him, but did not expect a “Perry Mason” moment, referring to the TV courtroom drama that aired in the Fifties and Sixties.
He said: “I don’t think you’ll have any ‘Gee, I did it, I did it, you got me. There won’t be a Perry Mason here, I don’t think, but you never know what happens, right?”
He also said that he will discuss the civil war in Syria, Russian aggression in Ukraine and nuclear proliferation.
“We’ve been modernising and fixing and buying the US nuclear arsenal,” Mr Trump said. “It’s just a devastating technology. And they likewise are doing a lot. It’s a very, very bad policy. We have no choice. We are massively big and they are very big.”
Mr Trump said he would “ideally get rid of ” all nuclear weapons. Highlighting the US response to the Salisbury spy poisoning, he said he had expelled far more diplomats than other nations.
“We have been far tougher on Russia than anybody. We have been extremely tough on Russia. We expelled 60 people, Germany did three.”
May is ‘incredible’
Mr Trump lavished praise on the Prime Minister, despite reports that the pair had struggled to build a political friendship since they both took office.
The president said: “This incredible woman, right here, is doing a fantastic job, a great job. And I mean that.
“I must say that I have gotten to know Theresa May much better over the last two days than I’ve known her over the last year and a half.”
Mr Trump talked up the Prime Minister by saying she was a “very tough negotiator” who had “left a lot of people in her wake”.
He added: “She’s a very smart, very tough, very capable person. And I would much rather have her as my friend than my enemy, that I can tell you.”
At times the pair referred to each other using first names – a sign of familiarity – and briefly held hands as they descended steps when walking to the podiums.
‘There was a story that was done, which was fine, but it didn’t put in what I said about the Prime Minister’
Praise for Johnson
Mr Trump also repeated his praise for Boris Johnson, the former foreign secretary, who he said would make a good prime minister during his interview in The Sun.
Discussing the original comments, the president said yesterday: “They asked about Boris Johnson. I said, yeah – how would he be as a Prime Minister? I said, he’ll be a great Prime Minister.”
“He’s been very nice to me. He’s been saying very good things about me as president. I think he thinks I’m doing a great job.”
Mr Trump added: “I am doing a great job, that I can tell you – just in case you haven’t noticed.”