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Trump prepared to apologise for Britain First retweets | Trump prepared to apologise for Britain First retweets |
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US president Donald Trump has said he is prepared to apologise for retweeting posts from a British far-right group. | US president Donald Trump has said he is prepared to apologise for retweeting posts from a British far-right group. |
In an interview with ITV's Piers Morgan, Mr Trump said he knew "nothing" about Britain First before sharing three of its videos in November. | In an interview with ITV's Piers Morgan, Mr Trump said he knew "nothing" about Britain First before sharing three of its videos in November. |
"If you are telling me they're horrible people, horrible, racist people, I would certainly apologise if you'd like me to do that," he told Morgan. | "If you are telling me they're horrible people, horrible, racist people, I would certainly apologise if you'd like me to do that," he told Morgan. |
The interview, held in Davos, will be broadcast on 28 January at 22:00 GMT. | |
The president's sharing of the controversial videos sparked a Twitter row with the UK prime minister, after Theresa May's spokesman said it was "wrong" of him to retweet the inflammatory posts to his 40 million followers. | |
Mr Trump told Mrs May to focus on "terrorism" in the UK instead criticising him. | |
'Horrible people' | 'Horrible people' |
Asked if he regretted the tweets, Mr Trump said "it was done because I am a big believer in fighting radical Islamic terror". | Asked if he regretted the tweets, Mr Trump said "it was done because I am a big believer in fighting radical Islamic terror". |
But he insisted he knew "nothing about" Britain First before sharing posts by the group's deputy leader Jayda Fransen. | |
"I know nothing about them, I don't want to be involved with people [like that]," Mr Trump told Morgan. | "I know nothing about them, I don't want to be involved with people [like that]," Mr Trump told Morgan. |
One of the videos retweeted by Mr Trump shows unverified footage of a "Muslim migrant" attacking a young Dutch man on crutches, with another showing a man smashing a statue of the Virgin Mary. | |
The third video, originating from riots that took place in Egypt in 2013, shows a man being pushed from the top of a building. | |
Mr Trump told Morgan: "Here's what's fair - if you're telling me they're horrible people, horrible racist people, I would certainly apologise if you'd like me to do that." | |
He also said the controversy was not a big story in the US. | He also said the controversy was not a big story in the US. |
Britain First, which was set up in 2011 by former members of the far-right British National Party (BNP), uses social media to gain attention for what it calls the "Islamification of the UK". | |
Speaking to ITV after the interview, Morgan said it was "right and proper" that Mr Trump should apologise, adding: "I think this is a significant climbdown by the president". | Speaking to ITV after the interview, Morgan said it was "right and proper" that Mr Trump should apologise, adding: "I think this is a significant climbdown by the president". |
During the interview, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, Mr Trump also told Morgan that he did not want to "cause any difficulty for your country". | |
He spoke of his "love" for the UK and for Scotland in particular, which he described as a "very special place", despite cancelling a planned visit to the UK in February. | He spoke of his "love" for the UK and for Scotland in particular, which he described as a "very special place", despite cancelling a planned visit to the UK in February. |
Asked about whether some people were opposed to a UK visit, Mr Trump said: "I hadn't heard about banning, I think a lot of the people in your country like what I stand for, [including] tough borders." | |
Mr Trump added that he had a "very good relationship" with the UK prime minister, who he met in Davos shortly before the interview on Thursday. | |
"A lot of people think we don't," he said. | "A lot of people think we don't," he said. |
In an earlier exchange with the PM in Davos, Switzerland, President Trump told Mrs May: "We love your country." | In an earlier exchange with the PM in Davos, Switzerland, President Trump told Mrs May: "We love your country." |
He also said the US and UK were "joined at the hip" on military matters, while Mrs May said they stood "shoulder to shoulder" in facing shared threats. | He also said the US and UK were "joined at the hip" on military matters, while Mrs May said they stood "shoulder to shoulder" in facing shared threats. |