Tag: Political criticism

LONDON – The U.K. woke Friday to discover that President Trump had thrown fuel onto the country’s already fiery political debate -- on a day in which he will hold a joint press conference with under-siege Prime Minister Theresa May, meet with Queen Elizabeth II and witness tens of thousands of demonstrators march through London in protest of his three-day working visit. The looming press conference was made immeasurably more awkward after The Sun published an extraordinary interview with Trump, in which the president doubled down on his criticism of May’s approach to handling Britain’s departure from the European Union. “No, if they would do that I would say that that would probably end a major trade relationship with the United States.” While he did praise May in the interview, he also said May had not taken his advice on Brexit, something he said was “fine.” “I would have done it much differently. That plan sparked the resignation of a number of officials, including Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and Brexit Secretary David Davis. “I am just saying that he would be a great Prime Minister. "The President likes and respects Prime Minister May very much. As he said in his interview with the Sun she 'is a very good person' and he 'never said anything bad about her,'" White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said. He is thankful for the wonderful welcome from the Prime Minister here in the U.K.” Trump’s interview dominated the country’s TV and radio discussions, MPs Twitter feeds, and the newspaper headlines -- all focusing on Trump’s opening salvo against May. “May’s Brexit will kill US trade deal, says Trump,” ran The Times of London. In London, the prime minister’s allies desperately tried to blunt the damage of what has been a chaotic week for May as she struggles to keep her cabinet and party united over Brexit.