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President Donald Trump talks of UK turmoil ahead of visit President Donald Trump talks of UK turmoil ahead of visit
(35 minutes later)
The UK is in "turmoil" and "it is up to the people" whether Theresa May stays as prime minister, Donald Trump has said ahead of his first visit to the country as US President.The UK is in "turmoil" and "it is up to the people" whether Theresa May stays as prime minister, Donald Trump has said ahead of his first visit to the country as US President.
Mr Trump told reporters before leaving Washington there were "a lot of things going on" in the UK at the moment.Mr Trump told reporters before leaving Washington there were "a lot of things going on" in the UK at the moment.
He said he got on well with Mrs May and had "always liked" Boris Johnson, who quit as foreign secretary on Monday.He said he got on well with Mrs May and had "always liked" Boris Johnson, who quit as foreign secretary on Monday.
Mr Trump arrives on Thursday after attending the Nato summit.Mr Trump arrives on Thursday after attending the Nato summit.
The US President is set to arrive in the UK on the same day as the government publishes its White Paper setting out in more detail Mrs May's controversial offer to the EU on future relations after Brexit.The US President is set to arrive in the UK on the same day as the government publishes its White Paper setting out in more detail Mrs May's controversial offer to the EU on future relations after Brexit.
Both Mr Johnson and former Brexit Secretary David Davis, who has also quit, have expressed fears it will tie the UK too closely to the EU and make it harder to do trade deals with countries like the US.Both Mr Johnson and former Brexit Secretary David Davis, who has also quit, have expressed fears it will tie the UK too closely to the EU and make it harder to do trade deals with countries like the US.
The US President has previously expressed sympathy for Brexit and said he wanted to do a quick trade deal with the UK once it leaves the EU - which is due to take place on 29 March, 2019.The US President has previously expressed sympathy for Brexit and said he wanted to do a quick trade deal with the UK once it leaves the EU - which is due to take place on 29 March, 2019.
Asked about his forthcoming visit, Mr Trump referred to the turbulence of the past 48 hours, which has prompted speculation about Theresa May's future as leader.Asked about his forthcoming visit, Mr Trump referred to the turbulence of the past 48 hours, which has prompted speculation about Theresa May's future as leader.
"It is going to be an interesting time in the UK and an interesting time at Nato," he told reporters on the lawn of the White House. "We will work it out and all countries will be happy."It is going to be an interesting time in the UK and an interesting time at Nato," he told reporters on the lawn of the White House. "We will work it out and all countries will be happy.
"So I have Nato, I have the UK - that's a situation with turmoil.""So I have Nato, I have the UK - that's a situation with turmoil."
Asked about Mrs May's future, he said it was a matter for the British people. "I get along with her very well. I have a very good relationship. That's certainly up to the people, not up to me."Asked about Mrs May's future, he said it was a matter for the British people. "I get along with her very well. I have a very good relationship. That's certainly up to the people, not up to me."
As for Boris Johnson - seen by many as a potential future challenger to Mrs May - Mr Trump said he was a "friend of mine" and he hoped he might find time to speak to him during his visit.As for Boris Johnson - seen by many as a potential future challenger to Mrs May - Mr Trump said he was a "friend of mine" and he hoped he might find time to speak to him during his visit.
"He's been very, very nice to me, very supportive. I like Boris Johnson, I've always liked him.""He's been very, very nice to me, very supportive. I like Boris Johnson, I've always liked him."
The ex-foreign secretary, who warned in his resignation letter on Monday that the "Brexit dream was dying", has spoken of his "increasing admiration" for Mr Trump and speculated about what Brexit negotiations would be like if he was in charge.The ex-foreign secretary, who warned in his resignation letter on Monday that the "Brexit dream was dying", has spoken of his "increasing admiration" for Mr Trump and speculated about what Brexit negotiations would be like if he was in charge.
During his visit, Mr Trump will hold talks with Theresa May, who will also host a dinner for him at Blenheim Palace. He is also due to have tea with The Queen at Windsor Castle.During his visit, Mr Trump will hold talks with Theresa May, who will also host a dinner for him at Blenheim Palace. He is also due to have tea with The Queen at Windsor Castle.
Protests are expected against Mr Trump, whose policies - including a travel ban on a number of predominantly Muslim countries, the detention of child migrants on the US-Mexico border and the imposition of tariffs on EU steel and aluminium exports - have all been criticised by the UK.Protests are expected against Mr Trump, whose policies - including a travel ban on a number of predominantly Muslim countries, the detention of child migrants on the US-Mexico border and the imposition of tariffs on EU steel and aluminium exports - have all been criticised by the UK.
Mrs May has insisted the UK's strategic and historic links with the US mean hosting its US president is essential, although making clear where the UK disagrees with him.Mrs May has insisted the UK's strategic and historic links with the US mean hosting its US president is essential, although making clear where the UK disagrees with him.
After being appointed foreign secretary on Monday, Jeremy Hunt said the UK would be a "dependable ally, a country that stands up for the values that matter to the people of this country and will be a strong and confident voice in the world".After being appointed foreign secretary on Monday, Jeremy Hunt said the UK would be a "dependable ally, a country that stands up for the values that matter to the people of this country and will be a strong and confident voice in the world".
Mr Hunt urged all ministers to stand behind the prime minister "so that we can get through an agreement with the European Union based on what was agreed by the cabinet last week at Chequers". Mr Hunt urged all ministers to stand behind the prime minister in pursuit of an agreement with the EU based on the approach agreed at Chequers.
On Monday evening, the prime minister faced down backbench critics at a meeting of the 1922 committee of Conservative MPs, amid rumours they were close to getting the 48 signatures needed to trigger a no-confidence vote that could spark a leadership election. Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, who has insisted any Brexit deal must guarantee there is no "hard border" on the island of Ireland, has suggested the Chequers agreement might represent a breakthrough.
"If the UK is able to relax some of its red lines, then the European Union should be flexible too," he told the Irish Parliament. "I think perhaps we are now entering into that space."
On Monday evening, Theresa May faced down backbench critics at a meeting of the 1922 committee of Conservative MPs, amid rumours they were close to getting the 48 signatures needed to trigger a no-confidence vote that could spark a leadership election.
She told her critics the alternative to the party coming together could be a left-wing Labour administration, with Jeremy Corbyn as prime minister.She told her critics the alternative to the party coming together could be a left-wing Labour administration, with Jeremy Corbyn as prime minister.
Another prominent Brexiteer, Environment Secretary Michael Gove, said he had "absolutely not" considered resigning and declared himself "100%" behind Mrs May's Brexit plan.Another prominent Brexiteer, Environment Secretary Michael Gove, said he had "absolutely not" considered resigning and declared himself "100%" behind Mrs May's Brexit plan.