Donald Trump wades into Britain's Brexit crisis

By Steve Holland and Guy Faulconbridge

 

FILE PHOTO: Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May and U.S. President Donald Trump walk to a joint news conference at Chequers, the official country residence of the Prime Minister, near Aylesbury, Britain, July 13, 2018. REUTERS/Hannah McKay/File Photo

 

WASHINGTON/LONDON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump arrives in Britain on Monday on a state visit laden with diplomatic peril, having already humiliated outgoing Prime Minister Theresa May over Brexit and challenged her to be tougher in dealing with China's Huawei.

 

Trump and his wife, Melania, will be treated to a display of British royal pageantry during the June 3-5 visit: lunch with Queen Elizabeth, tea with heir Prince Charles, a banquet at Buckingham Palace and a tour of Westminster Abbey, coronation church of English monarchs for 1,000 years.

 

Beyond the pomp, though, the proudly unpredictable 45th U.S. president also brings demands: He has praised a more radical Brexit-supporting potential successor to May and his envoys have urged a tougher British stance towards telecoms giant Huawei.

 

May said it was a "significant week for the special relationship and an opportunity to further strengthen our already close partnership."

 

She also said the UK-US security relationship was "deeper, broader and more advanced than with anyone else" in comments released by her office before Trump's arrival.

 

In an interview with the Sunday Times newspaper, Trump said the next British leader should send arch-Brexiteer Nigel Farage to conduct talks with the EU. Britain must leave the EU this year, Trump said.

 

"They've got to get it done," he said. "They have got to get the deal closed."

 

"If they don't get what they want, I would walk away. If you don't get a fair deal, you walk away."

 

Trump repeated his backing for those candidates to succeed May who have said Britain must leave on the due date of Oct. 31 with or without a deal.

 

Those candidates include former foreign secretary Boris Johnson, whom Trump praised in an interview with the Sun newspaper on Friday, along with former Brexit minister Dominic Raab and interior minister Sajid Javid.

 

Trump said it was a mistake for the Conservatives not to involve Farage, the Brexit Party leader, in talks with Brussels after his success in European Parliament elections last month.

 

"I like Nigel a lot. He has a lot to offer - he is a very smart person," Trump said. "They won't bring him in but think how well they would do if they did. They just haven't figured that out yet."

 

On the Brexit divorce bill, Trump said: "If I were them, I wouldn't pay 50 billion dollars. That is a tremendous number."

 

A meeting with either Johnson, favourite to succeed May, or Farage, a bombastic anti-establishment campaigner, would be seen as a snub for May who is bowing out after failing to negotiate a Brexit deal that parliament could ratify.

 

British officials are privately concerned that Trump could heap further ignominy on May, who battled in vain to unify her ruling Conservatives behind a deal and cried while announcing the end of her premiership in Downing Street last month.

 

BREXIT

On his last visit to the United Kingdom, in July last year, Trump shocked Britain's political establishment by hammering May's Brexit negotiation for being too weak with the EU and by praising rival Johnson as a "great" potential prime minister.

 

Trump's national security adviser John Bolton said on Thursday the United States did not want to "get in the middle" of Brexit or a discussion of the next government's policies.

 

Bolton dismissed concerns about Brexit: "You know, America declared its independence once – we made out okay," he quipped.

 

Brexit is the most significant geopolitical move for the United Kingdom since World War Two and if it ever happens then London will be more reliant on the United States as ties loosen with the other 27 members of the EU.

 

At a meeting with May, Trump will warn Britain that security cooperation could be hurt if London allows China's Huawei a role in building parts of the 5G network, the next generation of cellular technology.

 

The Trump administration has told allies not to use its 5G technology and equipment because of fears it would allow China to spy on sensitive communications and data. Huawei denies it is, or could be, a vehicle for Chinese intelligence.

 

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Britain last month it needed to change its attitude towards China and Huawei, casting the world's second largest economy as a threat to the West similar to that once posed by the Soviet Union.

 

Britain's so-called special relationship with the United States is an enduring alliance, but some British voters see Trump as crude, volatile and opposed to their values on issues ranging from global warming to his treatment of women.

 

BLIMP

A blimp depicting Trump as a snarling, nappy-clad baby will fly outside Britain's parliament during the visit while protesters plan a "carnival of resistance" in central London.

 

"Trump is coming to Britain to commemorate the defeat of fascism after D-Day while at the very same time pursuing a dangerous far-right agenda and fanning the flames of hatred," said Matt Bonner, its designer.

 

The first day of the visit, Monday, culminates in a lavish state banquet at Buckingham Palace - where men wear white tie coats with tails and women evening gowns.

 

Jeremy Corbyn, the socialist leader of Britain's opposition Labour Party, who has declined an invitation to attend the state banquet, scolded Trump for getting involved in British politics.

 

"President Trump’s attempt to decide who will be Britain’s next prime minister is an entirely unacceptable interference in our country’s democracy," Corbyn said.

 

The second day will focus on politics, including a breakfast with business leaders, talks with May in 10 Downing Street, a news conference and a dinner at the U.S. ambassador's residence.

 

On Wednesday, Trump joins the queen and veterans to mark the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings in the southern English city of Portsmouth, and also makes a trip to Ireland. He will attend official D-Day ceremonies in France on Thursday.

 

(Writing by Guy Faulconbridge, Editing by William Maclean and David Evans)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-06-03

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24 minutes ago, webfact said:

Jeremy Corbyn, the socialist leader of Britain's opposition Labour Party, who has declined an invitation to attend the state banquet, scolded Trump for getting involved in British politics.

While I'm no Trump fan, I see Corbyn obviously hates him, as shown by his criticism of having "scolded Trump for getting involved in British politics." Spoken by the very same man who has always been vocal in his support of foreign terrorist groups.

 

As noted elsewhere already:

"Of course the Corbyn supporters are anti Trump - as they back Hizbollah, Hamas and any other Middle Eastern terror group they can. Trump is against Iran, Hizbollah and Hamas."

 

Edited June 2, 20197 yr by bluesofa
addendum

41 minutes ago, webfact said:

Jeremy Corbyn, the socialist leader of Britain's opposition Labour Party, who has declined an invitation to attend the state banquet, scolded Trump for getting involved in British politics

That shows that Jeremy is unfit to be Prime Minister .

Refusing to meet Presidents , just because he doesnt like them .

You could say that hes sticking to his principles .

Would he keep those principles if he became PM ?

9 minutes ago, sanemax said:

That shows that Jeremy is unfit to be Prime Minister .

Refusing to meet Presidents , just because he doesnt like them .

You could say that hes sticking to his principles .

Would he keep those principles if he became PM ?

Surely an opportunity for diplomacy?

The definition of a good diplomat: Someone who can tell you to go to hell in such a way that you would look forward to the journey.

Thank God that Trump has finally got involved in Brexit. Now we will see some action. I think he should start with building a wall on the white cliffs of Dover, and putting a tariff on any stray bluebirds that fly over it.

 

3 minutes ago, KittenKong said:

Thank God that Trump has finally got involved in Brexit. Now we will see some action. I think he should start with building a wall on the white cliffs of Dover, and putting a tariff on any stray bluebirds that fly over it.

Do you mean you don't those coloured birds in, only white ones?

37 minutes ago, sanemax said:

That shows that Jeremy is unfit to be Prime Minister .

Refusing to meet Presidents , just because he doesnt like them .

You could say that hes sticking to his principles .

Would he keep those principles if he became PM ?

A principled PM would not have invited Trump!

1 hour ago, bluesofa said:

who has declined an invitation to attend the state banquet, scolded Trump for getting involved in British politics.

Trump is israel's best friend and as such Corbyn who has this affinity and admiration to all things palestinians and terrorists obviously not a big fan of trump... 

Nothing will save the Tories now, had the Euro elections been a general election, the BP would have won 400 of the 650 seats in parliament

17 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

A principled PM would not have invited Trump!

I disagree , ignoring people , especially Heads of states isnt the best way to proceed in relationships  .

  Even if you dislike someones politics , its better to talk to them 

Wow, must be a first, an article about Trump with "far right" being mentioned.

He will be wading in over his depth. The narcist must feel some pain when he see's how unpopular he is in the UK/Europe, he will yearn for redneck country before his visit is over.

unpopular with some..very popular with MANY!!

He will be wading in over his depth. The narcist must feel some pain when he see's how unpopular he is in the UK/Europe, he will yearn for redneck country before his visit is over.

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9 minutes ago, malagateddy said:

unpopular with some..very popular with MANY!!

 

Sent from my SM-G7102 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

 

Yeah, like he has to forgo the open carriage ride with the queen because of expected protests and 10,000 British police have to be on duty to protect him, on top of the hundreds of his own security guards, a British broadcaster has been taking the mickey about his unpopularity.

Yeah, like he has to forgo the open carriage ride with the queen because of expected protests and 10,000 British police have to be on duty to protect him, on top of the hundreds of his own security guards, a British broadcaster has been taking the mickey about his unpopularity.

Security for very important people is paramount.
Just wonder who'll be the protesters..the momentum mob..anorchists..socialist workers party..the i luv hillary crowd ..yip..just the usual rent a mob loonies out to cause trouble..oh nearly forgot..some of the i luv the eeeeuuuu squad will pop up also.
Have a luvly day now

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6 minutes ago, soalbundy said:

Yeah, like he has to forgo the open carriage ride with the queen because of expected protests and 10,000 British police have to be on duty to protect him, on top of the hundreds of his own security guards, a British broadcaster has been taking the mickey about his unpopularity.

Thats quite shameful and respectful behavior , no doubt its the same people who celebrated when Mrs Thatcher died , although they will just try and make a joke about it "avin a rite larff*

4 minutes ago, malagateddy said:

Security for very important people is paramount.
Just wonder who'll be the protesters..the momentum mob..anorchists..socialist workers party..the i luv hillary crowd ..yip..just the usual rent a mob loonies out to cause trouble..oh nearly forgot..some of the i luv the eeeeuuuu squad will pop up also.
Have a luvly day now

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And most of the females will have shorter hair than the males 

Why does the blimp look more like Emily Thornbury than Donald Trump.

 

12 minutes ago, malagateddy said:

Security for very important people is paramount.
Just wonder who'll be the protesters..the momentum mob..anorchists..socialist workers party..the i luv hillary crowd ..yip..just the usual rent a mob loonies out to cause trouble..oh nearly forgot..some of the i luv the eeeeuuuu squad will pop up also.
Have a luvly day now

Sent from my SM-G7102 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

If you are looking to label these people, which you clearly are, try this for size:

 

’People exercising their democratic right to peacefully protest’.

 

5 minutes ago, vogie said:

Why does the blimp look more like Emily Thornbury than Donald Trump.

 

 

Random meaningless meme ripped off some obscure corner of the internet.

If you are looking to label these people, which you clearly are, try this for size:
 
’People exercising their democratic right to peacefully protest’.
 

Peacefully protest..guess we will soon find out eh??

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2 hours ago, bluesofa said:

While I'm no Trump fan, I see Corbyn obviously hates him, as shown by his criticism of having "scolded Trump for getting involved in British politics." Spoken by the very same man who has always been vocal in his support of foreign terrorist groups.

 

As noted elsewhere already:

"Of course the Corbyn supporters are anti Trump - as they back Hizbollah, Hamas and any other Middle Eastern terror group they can. Trump is against Iran, Hizbollah and Hamas."

 

Correct. And Corbyn has never done a proper days work in his life!!!!

4 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

If you are looking to label these people, which you clearly are, try this for size:

 

’People exercising their democratic right to peacefully protest’.

 

Probably more to with peer pressure and wanting to please others, usually by people with very low self esteem, usually come from very well to do families and think the world revolves around them, and they certainly don't give a rats tail for anyone else in society, it's all me me me.

Braces..dungarees and bovver boots??[emoji2][emoji2][emoji2]

And most of the females will have shorter hair than the males 

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And the pantomime continues...

 

 

Quote

 

Trump denies calling Meghan 'nasty' despite audio recording

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-48491602

 

No I did not

Oh yes you did

No I did not

Oh yes you did

No I did not

Oh yes you did...

 

1 hour ago, soalbundy said:

He will be wading in over his depth. The narcist must feel some pain when he see's how unpopular he is in the UK/Europe, he will yearn for redneck country before his visit is over.

The UK/EU didn't elect Trump. But there are MANY in UK that favor him and his policies. Making America (and the West) great again!!!

 

When he arrives he will be the most sensible politician in the UK with out a doubt???? 

5 minutes ago, howbri said:

The UK/EU didn't elect Trump. But there are MANY in UK that favor him and his policies. Making America (and the West) great again!!!

 

Lol!

67% have a negative opinion of Trump!

https://yougov.co.uk/topics/international/explore/public_figure/Donald_Trump

1 hour ago, malagateddy said:

unpopular with some..very popular with MANY!!

 

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Lol! 

21% of positive opinion in the UK

https://yougov.co.uk/topics/international/explore/public_figure/Donald_Trump

2 minutes ago, candide said:

Lol!

67% have a negative opinion of Trump!

https://yougov.co.uk/topics/international/explore/public_figure/Donald_Trump

But I'm pretty sure 99.9% of UK citizens wouldn't be childish enough to fly an effigy of Trump dressed as a baby, most don't give a hoot whether he comes or not, we leave all that to our rent-a-mob contingent.