Trump UK visit: President says talks have begun for 'big trade deal' and Britain must 'get rid of shackles'

President claims there are 'Tremendous crowds of well wishers and people that love our Country' in the UK as demonstrators stage massive protests against him

Chris Riotta
New York
Monday 03 June 2019 19:57 BST
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The Queen shows Donald Trump and Melania the items and artworks from the Royal Collection

Donald Trump has posted a series of tweets after meeting the Royal Family on Monday, claiming he has not seen the massive demonstrations opposing his state visit and calling on the UK to get “rid of the shackles” amid its Brexit negotiations.

The president praised the queen, saying “the entire Royal family have been fantastic,” before wading into British politics and suggesting the demonstrations against him do not actually exist.

“London part of trip is going really well,” Mr Trump wrote on Monday. “The Queen and the entire Royal family have been fantastic. The relationship with the United Kingdom is very strong. Tremendous crowds of well wishers and people that love our Country.”

“Haven’t seen any protests yet, but I’m sure the Fake News will be working hard to find them,” he added. “Great love all around. Also, big Trade Deal is possible once U.K. gets rid of the shackles. Already starting to talk!”

Mr Trump raised controversy just before beginning his visit to the UK by speaking with a British tabloid called The Sun, effectively endorsing Boris Johnson to become the next prime minister and suggesting he could have handled Brexit negotiations better than Theresa May.

The interview and resulting backlash was almost eerily similar to Mr Trump’s last visit, when he spoke to The Sun just before arriving in the UK and taking the rare step from a US president of jumping into British politics.

“I think Boris would do a very good job. I think he would be excellent,” Mr Trump said.

“I like him. I have always liked him. I don’t know that he is going to be chosen, but I think he is a very good guy, a very talented person,” he added. “He has been very positive about me and our country.”

Typically US presidents do not step into British politics, particularly when a sitting prime minister is expected to step down as Ms May announced last month.

The president added to his series of tweets from the UK that Russia had allegedly informed his administration it had “removed most of their people from Venezuela.”

He also encouraged Mexico to stop “the flow of people and drugs through their country” to the US southern border, writing, “They can do it if they want!”

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Mr Trump will meet the prime minister for a bilateral meeting on Tuesday, before hosting a dinner at the ambassador’s residence in London called the Winfield House.

He then heads to Portsmouth on Wednesday to participate in a commemoration honouring the 75-year anniversary of D-Day, before departing for Ireland.

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