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| Donald Trump talks to Theresa May: UK is 'very, very special place for me' says President-elect | Donald Trump talks to Theresa May: UK is 'very, very special place for me' says President-elect |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Theresa May has finally spoken with Donald Trump, after criticism that their failure to talk had left Britain somewhere near the “back of the queue”. | Theresa May has finally spoken with Donald Trump, after criticism that their failure to talk had left Britain somewhere near the “back of the queue”. |
| The two leaders had a telephone conversation at 1.45pm, Downing Street said, focusing on the UK-US special relationship and on strengthening bilateral trade. | The two leaders had a telephone conversation at 1.45pm, Downing Street said, focusing on the UK-US special relationship and on strengthening bilateral trade. |
| A No.10 spokesman said: “The Prime Minister and President-elect Trump agreed that the US-UK relationship was very important and very special, and that building on this would be a priority for them both. | A No.10 spokesman said: “The Prime Minister and President-elect Trump agreed that the US-UK relationship was very important and very special, and that building on this would be a priority for them both. |
| “President-elect Trump set out his close and personal connections with, and warmth for, the UK. He said he was confident that the special relationship would go from strength to strength.” | “President-elect Trump set out his close and personal connections with, and warmth for, the UK. He said he was confident that the special relationship would go from strength to strength.” |
| The spokesman added: “The call ended with President-elect Trump inviting the Prime Minister to visit him as soon as possible.” | The spokesman added: “The call ended with President-elect Trump inviting the Prime Minister to visit him as soon as possible.” |
| The conversation came after the embarrassing revelation that Mr Trump had already spoken with at least nine other world leaders, apparently leaving claims of a ‘special relationship’ in tatters. | The conversation came after the embarrassing revelation that Mr Trump had already spoken with at least nine other world leaders, apparently leaving claims of a ‘special relationship’ in tatters. |
| In just 24 hours after his victory, he spoke with the leaders of Egypt, Ireland, Mexico, Israel, Turkey, India, Japan, Australia and South Korea. | In just 24 hours after his victory, he spoke with the leaders of Egypt, Ireland, Mexico, Israel, Turkey, India, Japan, Australia and South Korea. |
| By the time he chatted with Ms May, Mr Trump had invited the Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny to the White House for St Patrick’s Day next year. | By the time he chatted with Ms May, Mr Trump had invited the Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny to the White House for St Patrick’s Day next year. |
| And he had arranged to meet Shinzo Abe, the Japanese Prime Minister next week, before an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. | And he had arranged to meet Shinzo Abe, the Japanese Prime Minister next week, before an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. |
| Chancellor Philip Hammond raised eyebrows when he suggested Ms May and Mr Trump had not yet spoken because they had no "urgent business" to discuss. | |
| The Trump camp has said it has “no immediate plans” to travel to Britain or Europe ahead of his January inauguration. | The Trump camp has said it has “no immediate plans” to travel to Britain or Europe ahead of his January inauguration. |
| The American and British leaders will meet at the next G7 summit, in May next year, and Ms May hopes to be invited to Washington before then, to discuss a possible post-Brexit trade deal. | |
| Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat leader, tweeted: “Trump yet to call May, but has called Egypt Ireland Mexico Israel Turkey India Japan & Australia...almost like we are 'back of the queue'.” | Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat leader, tweeted: “Trump yet to call May, but has called Egypt Ireland Mexico Israel Turkey India Japan & Australia...almost like we are 'back of the queue'.” |
| Mr Trump – who recently bought a golf course in Ireland reportedly worth £12.4m - quickly found time to speak with Mr Kenny and invite him to America. | Mr Trump – who recently bought a golf course in Ireland reportedly worth £12.4m - quickly found time to speak with Mr Kenny and invite him to America. |
| The tradition of a get-together with the Taoisigh on St Patrick’s Day would continue “in the spirit of the strong ties between the two countries”, Mr Trump said. | The tradition of a get-together with the Taoisigh on St Patrick’s Day would continue “in the spirit of the strong ties between the two countries”, Mr Trump said. |
| Mr Kenny said: “I had a very good conversation with the president elect. | Mr Kenny said: “I had a very good conversation with the president elect. |
| “He understands Ireland very well, he was complimentary about the decisions made about the economy here. He is looking forward to doing business with Ireland.” | “He understands Ireland very well, he was complimentary about the decisions made about the economy here. He is looking forward to doing business with Ireland.” |
| Mr Trump also pledged his commitment to defend South Korea, during a phone call with its president Park Geun-hye, a news agency in the country said. | Mr Trump also pledged his commitment to defend South Korea, during a phone call with its president Park Geun-hye, a news agency in the country said. |
| And Turkish President Tayyib Erdogan wasted no time in congratulating the President-elect and discussing “the future of his country's relationship with the US”, Ankara said. | And Turkish President Tayyib Erdogan wasted no time in congratulating the President-elect and discussing “the future of his country's relationship with the US”, Ankara said. |
| Malcolm Turnbull, Australia’s Prime Minister, and Mr Trump spoke for 15 minutes on the telephone, covering trade, regional security and the fight against Islamic State. | Malcolm Turnbull, Australia’s Prime Minister, and Mr Trump spoke for 15 minutes on the telephone, covering trade, regional security and the fight against Islamic State. |
| A statement from the Egyptian presidency said Abdel Fattah al-Sissi was the first world leader to have a conversation, which focussed on how to “foster closer diplomatic ties”. | A statement from the Egyptian presidency said Abdel Fattah al-Sissi was the first world leader to have a conversation, which focussed on how to “foster closer diplomatic ties”. |
| In the hours after the result, Germany's Angela Merkel and France's Francois Hollande offered Mr Trump only cautious support - warning that his win ushered in a “'period of uncertainty”. | In the hours after the result, Germany's Angela Merkel and France's Francois Hollande offered Mr Trump only cautious support - warning that his win ushered in a “'period of uncertainty”. |
| But Ms May ducked questions about past criticisms of his stance on Muslims, saying: “Britain and the United States have an enduring and special relationship based on the values of freedom, democracy and enterprise. | But Ms May ducked questions about past criticisms of his stance on Muslims, saying: “Britain and the United States have an enduring and special relationship based on the values of freedom, democracy and enterprise. |
| “We are, and will remain, strong and close partners on trade, security and defence.” | “We are, and will remain, strong and close partners on trade, security and defence.” |