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| 'Opposites attract': Theresa May signals strong relationship with Trump | 'Opposites attract': Theresa May signals strong relationship with Trump |
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| Theresa May said she can strike up a strong working relationship with Donald Trump because “opposites attract”, as she prepares to become the first world leader to meet the new US president. | Theresa May said she can strike up a strong working relationship with Donald Trump because “opposites attract”, as she prepares to become the first world leader to meet the new US president. |
| Amid concerns in the UK about whether she was “grovelling” to Trump, who sparked fresh outrage on Wednesday when he suggested torture was effective, May told reporters on a plane to the US on Thursday that the two would get on. | Amid concerns in the UK about whether she was “grovelling” to Trump, who sparked fresh outrage on Wednesday when he suggested torture was effective, May told reporters on a plane to the US on Thursday that the two would get on. |
| Asked about the contrast between the brash, outspoken billionaire and the vicar’s daughter, May replied: “Haven’t you ever noticed, sometimes opposites attract?” | |
| Just landed in Philadelphia. Theresa May told us she's ready to strike up a good relationship with Trump because "opposites attract". | |
| She also insisted that she would not be afraid to take Trump to task on the use of torture. “We have a very clear view: we condemn the use of torture, and my view on that won’t change, whether I’m talking to you, or talking to President Trump,” she told journalists en route to Philadelphia, where she was due to address senior Republicans before flying to Washington to meet Trump on Friday. | |
| May said Trump had made clear in their telephone conversations in recent days that he wants to work closely with her, saying: “There is a clear commitment on both sides not just to maintain the special relationship, but to build on the special relationship.” | May said Trump had made clear in their telephone conversations in recent days that he wants to work closely with her, saying: “There is a clear commitment on both sides not just to maintain the special relationship, but to build on the special relationship.” |
| She said the US president had expressed his support for Nato in their conversations, and she expected to discuss it with him, as well as trade, security, and the fight against Isis. Trump appeared to cast doubt on the US commitment to the military alliance in his recent interview with Michael Gove, when he suggested the institution was “obsolescent”. | She said the US president had expressed his support for Nato in their conversations, and she expected to discuss it with him, as well as trade, security, and the fight against Isis. Trump appeared to cast doubt on the US commitment to the military alliance in his recent interview with Michael Gove, when he suggested the institution was “obsolescent”. |
| May said: “From the conversations I’ve already had with President Trump over the phone, he has shown to me his commitment to Nato as well. I believe a strong Nato has been the bulwark of our defence in Europe. Obviously that’s important in the UK national interest and I believe it’s important in the US national interest.” | May said: “From the conversations I’ve already had with President Trump over the phone, he has shown to me his commitment to Nato as well. I believe a strong Nato has been the bulwark of our defence in Europe. Obviously that’s important in the UK national interest and I believe it’s important in the US national interest.” |
| Asked about what reassurance she could offer to British Muslims concerned about her appearing to befriend Trump – who has suggested banning all Muslims from entering the US, and has promised “extreme vetting” for some immigrants – May said: “I want to see an open and tolerant society, and I want a country that works for everyone.” She added: “The policies the US introduces are for the US to introduce.” | Asked about what reassurance she could offer to British Muslims concerned about her appearing to befriend Trump – who has suggested banning all Muslims from entering the US, and has promised “extreme vetting” for some immigrants – May said: “I want to see an open and tolerant society, and I want a country that works for everyone.” She added: “The policies the US introduces are for the US to introduce.” |
| May’s visit is the culmination of a series of contacts between London and Washington since Trump won the US election in November. Her two closest advisers, Fiona Hill and Nick Timothy, met members of his team in December. The foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, has also visited Washington, to discuss laying the groundwork for a potential bilateral trade deal that the UK hopes could be signed as soon as possible after Brexit. | May’s visit is the culmination of a series of contacts between London and Washington since Trump won the US election in November. Her two closest advisers, Fiona Hill and Nick Timothy, met members of his team in December. The foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, has also visited Washington, to discuss laying the groundwork for a potential bilateral trade deal that the UK hopes could be signed as soon as possible after Brexit. |
| Trump has suggested he is keen to do a deal with the UK, in contrast to his predecessor, Barack Obama, who said during the referendum campaign that London would be “at the back of the queue”. But sceptics point out that Trump is an avowed protectionist, who has already torn up the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade deal with countries including Japan, and said he wants to put “America First”. | Trump has suggested he is keen to do a deal with the UK, in contrast to his predecessor, Barack Obama, who said during the referendum campaign that London would be “at the back of the queue”. But sceptics point out that Trump is an avowed protectionist, who has already torn up the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade deal with countries including Japan, and said he wants to put “America First”. |
| Asked whether she would be willing to offer US companies access to the NHS as the price of a deal, May said: “We are at the start of the process of talking about a trade deal … As regards the NHS, we’re very clear as a government that we’re committed to an NHS that is free at the point of use.” | Asked whether she would be willing to offer US companies access to the NHS as the price of a deal, May said: “We are at the start of the process of talking about a trade deal … As regards the NHS, we’re very clear as a government that we’re committed to an NHS that is free at the point of use.” |
| May believes she and Trump share some values, saying: “I think we both share a desire to ensure that governments are working for everyone and particularly that governments are working for ordinary working families and working-class families. And I think that’s important.” | May believes she and Trump share some values, saying: “I think we both share a desire to ensure that governments are working for everyone and particularly that governments are working for ordinary working families and working-class families. And I think that’s important.” |
| Asked how she could avoid becoming the poodle of a US president – a charge often levelled against Tony Blair in his relationship with George W Bush – May said: “I’m going to be very clear in everything we do. I believe the special relationship is important to us, it’s important more widely across Europe and the world. | Asked how she could avoid becoming the poodle of a US president – a charge often levelled against Tony Blair in his relationship with George W Bush – May said: “I’m going to be very clear in everything we do. I believe the special relationship is important to us, it’s important more widely across Europe and the world. |
| “But I will also be very clear in the decisions I take and the conversations I have about UK interests. I’m not going to say anything different to Donald Trump to what I’m saying to you in terms of UK interests and where those lie.” | “But I will also be very clear in the decisions I take and the conversations I have about UK interests. I’m not going to say anything different to Donald Trump to what I’m saying to you in terms of UK interests and where those lie.” |
| The White House on Thursday also announced Trump’s first press conference as president would be held with May after their meeting on Friday. It had been believed the pair would avoid the traditional joint appearance for journalists, opting instead for a so-called “grip and grin” photo opportunity. | |
| Trump’s press secretary, Sean Spicer, confirmed the question and answer session while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Thursday. The US would “continue to talk about growing the relationship between America and the United Kingdom,” Spicer said. | |
| Trump is likely to use the public platform to reiterate his support for Brexit. But May could face awkward questions over his past criticisms of the EU and Nato and his recent comments in praise of torture. | |
| It will be Trump’s first press conference as president, and his second since last July. He has frequently lambasted what he calls “the dishonest media”. His most recent media interaction, at Trump Tower in New York, was a chaotic affair with questions over Russia holding compromising information about him and Trump accusing a CNN reporter of “fake news”. | |
| Debut joint press conferences by US presidents and British prime ministers are always closely scrutinised for body language and mentions of the “special relationship”. When asked if he had discovered any common interests with Blair, Bush memorably said: “Well, we both use Colgate toothpaste.” |