Theresa May defiant over Trump state visit despite outcry in UK

Theresa May meets Donald Trump: What can we expect?

23 January

Prime Minister Theresa May will this week become the first foreign leader to hold talks with US President Donald Trump.

May has said the "special relationship" between the two countries will mean they have lots to talk about, but commentators say it could be an uncomfortable meeting, given Trump's past remarks about women.

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What topics will they discuss?

Nato is expected to be high on the agenda. Claiming that "many" members "aren't paying their bills", Trump wants major changes to how the organisation is funded, sparking fears the US could pull out of its defence obligations.

May said on Sunday: "I've spoken to him about Nato – Nato is very important; Nato has been the bulwark of our security here in Europe and we work together in Nato."

The Guardian suggests the two leaders could agree on a statement emphasising their commitment to allotting at least two per cent of GDP to defence and urging other Nato members to match that.

May also said terrorism and the Syria conflict would be on the agenda.

What about a trade deal?

As the UK prepares for Brexit, the PM's "most important task" is to lay out plans for a UK-US trade deal, Bloomberg says.

"But what common ground can there be between a prime minister who sees herself as a champion of global free trade and a president who sees commerce as 'other countries making our products, stealing our companies and destroying our jobs'?" it asks.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has also cast doubt on a favourable deal for the UK. "The idea that Donald Trump will suddenly roll over and offer a trade deal with Britain, which doesn't have strings attached like investor protection, where American companies can come in and run parts of our NHS and be protected in doing so… I think she needs to be extremely careful," he told Sky News.

Do we have any specifics?

The two countries will discuss slashing tariffs, according to the Daily Telegraph, which adds that a tariff agreement with the US could be a major boost for May when conducting Brexit negotiations with the EU.

It also says that plans include making it easier for workers to move between the two nations. There are currently around one million Americans working in the UK and vice versa.

Will May tackle Trump on his views about women?

That could make things awkward. Up to two million people, including more than 80,000 in London, joined women's marches across the globe this weekend to protest Trump's misogynist views, The Guardian says. Many have called for May to tackle the President head-on over the matter.

But on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show yesterday, the PM said: "I think the biggest statement that will be made about the role of women is that I will be there as a female prime minister, directly talking to him about the interests we share."

Tim Bale, professor of politics and international relations at Queen Mary University of London, told Bloomberg: "All she can do is pack her rictus grin in her hand luggage and hope she and her team can get something half-way sensible from Trump's team."