Trump UK visit: what the President said about Theresa May, Brexit and Sadiq Khan
US President also hails Boris Johnson as future Prime Minister in interview described as verbal grenade

President Donald Trump has blasted Theresa May for her handling of Brexit and shot down the chances of a trade deal on the first day of his official visit to the UK.
Speaking to The Sun ahead of last night’s gala dinner at Blenheim Palace, Trump said the prime minister’s soft Brexit blueprint will mean the end of any future trade deal with the US.
“If they do a deal like that, we would be dealing with the European Union instead of dealing with the UK, so it will probably kill the deal,” the president said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Trump's remarks have “driven a bulldozer” through May's claim that the UK would be able to get decent trade deals with the wider world, while sticking to the EU rules, according to the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg.
The US leader also claimed that the PM ignored his advice on Brexit negotiations: “I would have done it much differently. I actually told Theresa May how to do it, but she didn’t listen to me".
Trump “has once again torn up standard etiquette for diplomacy by turning up, not with flowers or a bottle of wine – but a verbal grenade,” says The Guardian’s David Smith.
The two leaders are due to hold bilateral talks at Chequers this lunchtime, followed by a joint press conference. Trump will then head to Windsor Castle for tea with the Queen before travelling to Scotland.
With tens of thousands of protesters due to greet him in the capital today, the president said he was pleased not to be spending much time in London during his three-day trip to the UK.
“I used to love London as a city. I haven’t been there in a long time. But when they make you feel unwelcome, why would I stay there?” Trump said.
He also attacked Sadiq Khan for allowing a giant “Trump baby” blimp to fly over Westminster and said the London Mayor had done a “very bad job” on tackling terrorism and crime in the capital.
However, Trump had nothing but praise for Khan’s predecessor Boris Johnson, whom he described as “a very talented guy” who would “be a great prime minister”.
The Washington Post reports that the Trump administration didn’t expect the interview to be published so soon and White House officials were left “scrambling” for what to say to May today.
“There’s no way Trump will apologise,” a senior US official told the newspaper. “But we also don’t want to blow everything up.”
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
June 28 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Saturday's political cartoons include stupid wars, a critical media, and mask standards
-
Thai fish pie with crispy turmeric potatoes recipe
The Week Recommends Tasty twist on the Lancashire hot pot is given a golden glow
-
Palestine Action: protesters or terrorists?
Talking Point Damaging RAF equipment at Brize Norton blurs line between activism and sabotage, but proscription is a drastic step
-
Trump's strikes on Iran: a 'spectacular success'?
In Depth Military humiliations 'expose the brittleness' of Tehran's ageing regime, but risk reinforcing its commitment to its nuclear program
-
Will NATO countries meet their new spending goal?
today's big question The cost of keeping Trump happy
-
GOP races to revise megabill after Senate rulings
Speed Read A Senate parliamentarian ruled that several changes to Medicaid included in Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill" were not permissible
-
Trump plans Iran talks, insists nuke threat gone
Speed Read 'The war is done' and 'we destroyed the nuclear,' said President Trump
-
Trump embraces NATO after budget vow, charm offensive
Speed Read The president reversed course on his longstanding skepticism of the trans-Atlantic military alliance
-
Bibi's back: what will Netanyahu do next?
Today's Big Question Riding high after a series of military victories, Israel's PM could push for peace in Gaza – or secure his own position with snap election
-
Trump judge pick told DOJ to defy courts, lawyer says
Speed Read Emil Bove, a top Justice Department official nominated by Trump for a lifetime seat, stands accused of encouraging government lawyers to mislead the courts and defy judicial orders
-
The ambiguous legal state of ectopic pregnancy care
The Explainer Rep. Kat Cammack's accusations of 'fearmongering' are the latest example of how mixed messages are complicating the debate around abortion