Donald Trump tells Theresa May Brexit will be 'fantastic' for UK
The President hails Britain's decision to leave the EU and hints at a trade deal with the US during a news briefing with the PM.
Friday 27 January 2017 22:09, UK
Donald Trump has claimed Brexit will be a "fantastic thing" for the UK.
The President was speaking at a joint news conference with Theresa May after she became the first foreign leader to visit the White House since his inauguration.
"I think Brexit is going to be a wonderful thing for your country," he said.
"When it irons out you are going to have your own identity and you are going to have the people that you want in your country and you are going to be able to make free trade deals without having somebody watching you and what you are doing.
"I think it will end up being a fantastic thing for the United Kingdom. I think in the end it will be a tremendous asset, not a tremendous liability."
It is an open secret the President is no fan of the European Union.
During his run for the White House he spoke of "a parallel" between Brexit and his own campaign.
He even invited Nigel Farage to speak at a rally and the pair were pictured together at Trump Tower just days after the election result.
Having now met the President herself, Mrs May is hopeful a trade deal can be struck between the UK and US once Britain's divorce from the EU is complete.
She told reporters: "The President and I are ambitious to build on this relationship in order to grow our respective economies, provide the high-skilled, high-paid jobs for working people across America and across the UK.
"We are discussing how we can establish a trade negotiation agreement, take forward immediate high-level talks, lay the groundwork for a UK/US trade agreement and identify the practical steps we can take now in order to enable companies in both countries to trade and do business with one another more easily."
Mrs May and her host were set for further talks on Friday evening following a meal of baby iceberg wedge salad with blue cheese, braised beef ribs and salted caramel creme brulee.