Effusive Trump promises Britain a "phenomenal" post-Brexit trade deal

By Steve Holland and William James

 

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May and U.S. President Donald Trump attend a joint news conference at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, in London, Britain June 4, 2019. David Rose/Pool via REUTERS

 

LONDON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday promised Britain a "phenomenal" post-Brexit trade deal, dismissed differences over China's Huawei and glossed over other disagreements as he heaped praise on the United States' closest ally.

 

Feted by Queen Elizabeth on the first day of his state visit to Britain, Trump was effusive about the "special relationship" between the two nations, dispelling concerns he might repeat criticism of Britain and outgoing Prime Minister Theresa May.

 

"It's the greatest alliance the world has ever known," Trump told reporters at a news conference beside May at Britain's Foreign Office.

 

Prior to his trip, the collapse of May's premiership over her failure to secure Britain's exit from the European Union had raised concerns that Trump could publicly humiliate her.

 

Instead, Trump called May a "tremendous professional", steered clear of rhetoric that could embarrass her and let pass contentious topics such as Huawei and Iran while making light of sensitive issues such as her possible succession.

 

Trump mentioned Boris Johnson, who has said the United Kingdom should leave the EU on Oct. 31, deal or no deal, and Jeremy Hunt, Britain's foreign minister who has warned against leaving without a deal.

 

"I know Boris, I like him, I've liked him for a long time. I think he would do a very good job," Trump told reporters at a news conference beside May at Britain's Foreign Office.

 

"I know Jeremy, I think he'd do a very good job," he added.

 

A WAY OVER HUAWEI

A key area of discord between the allies has been Britain's preliminary decision to allow Huawei a restricted role in building parts of its 5G network.

 

The Trump administration has told allies not to use Huawei's 5G technology and equipment because of fears it could allow China to spy on sensitive communications and data and warned it could impact on intelligence-sharing.

 

But, after an hour long meeting with May, Trump said any issues could be resolved.

 

"We have an incredible intelligence relationship and will be able to work out any differences," Trump said. "We did discuss it, I see absolutely no limitations, we have never had limitations, this is a truly great ally and partner and we will have no problem with that."

 

Iran was barely mentioned, while Trump said Britain's EU divorce would happen and pave the way for a large future trade deal.

 

"This is a great, great country and it wants its own identity, it wants to have its own borders, it wants to run its own affairs," he said.

 

"As the UK makes preparations to exit the European Union, the United States is committed to a phenomenal trade deal between the US and the UK. There is tremendous potential in that trade deal - I say probably two and even three times of what we are doing right now."

 

NO JEREMY CORBYN

On a trip to Britain last year, Trump shocked the British political establishment by hammering May over Brexit and praising rivals, but on Tuesday the had only warm words for the prime minister.

 

"I think she has done a very good job," he said. However, he said he had refused to meet opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, a veteran socialist who spoke at a protest against Trump which attracted several thousand demonstrators to central London on Tuesday.

 

"I heard that there were protests," Trump told reporters. "I said: 'Where are the protests? I don't see any protests'. I did see a small protest today when I came, very small, so a lot of it is fake news."

 

May, who steps down as leader of the ruling Conservative Party on Friday, praised the "precious and profound" alliance between the allies and said friends could also be open when they disagreed.

 

"I have always talked openly with you, Donald, where we have taken a different approach – and you have done the same with me," she said.

 

"I have always believed that cooperation and compromise are the basis of strong alliances and nowhere is this more true than in the special relationship."

 

(Writing by Guy Faulconbridge and Michael Holden; Additional reporting by Elizabeth Piper, Andrew MacAskill, William James, Costas Pitas, Kate Holton, Kylie MacLellan and Michael Holden; Editing by Peter Cooney and Jon Boyle)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-06-05

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info

Trump also stated that the NHS must be included in any trade deal.

 

Precisely as predicted all along by ’project fear’.

8 minutes ago, webfact said:

Effusive Trump promises Britain a "phenomenal" post-Brexit trade deal

"phenomenal". Trump's speeches always seem to be full of such adjectives, having to hype-up whatever he says.

 

I remember during his election campaign with those baseball caps saying "Make America Great Again", some wit was wearing one with the word "Britain" inserted immediately following "Great".
 

At least Brits have a chance with the current president.

 

News of this magnitude will see sterling over 70 to the baht later this week!

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Effusive Trump promises Britain a "phenomenal" post-Brexit trade deal

 

He'll throw in whitewalls and undercoating for free.

 

 

Never mind negotiating a great deal with tramp after brexit. By the time you guys acomplish brexit not only he will not be president he might not even be alive.  

25 minutes ago, sirineou said:

Never mind negotiating a great deal with tramp after brexit. By the time you guys acomplish brexit not only he will not be president he might not even be alive.  

Tell that to the remainers holding us up and causing the pound to bomb, not the 17.4 million Brits who chose to exit.

When Trump calls something good or perfect or phenomenal it's like that from his point of view.

 

It's like walking into the dressing room full of half naked miss-whatever competitors. I am sure he though it was phenomenal. But all others involved had probably another point of view and would describe it with very different words.

 

And all this is obviously public knowledge. But there are still people, even in the UK, who support him. Amazing!

Duck its Donald. UK will not enter into trade negotiations for at least a year until Brexit is dead. Donald is desperate for trade seeing he has stuffed up all other trading countries with tariffs.

England has nowhere else to go. They are the pariahs of Europe. They would be wise to take any deal with the USA, because as it stands we are their best friends and maybe their only friends.

I feel compelled to  use the more appropriate word  scaturient  as an alternative to  effusive Trump.

With due emphasis on the first  syllable.

1 hour ago, jesimps said:

Tell that to the remainers holding us up and causing the pound to bomb, not the 17.4 million Brits who chose to exit.

The essence of Brexit.

 

It’s always somebody else’s fault.

2 hours ago, Thailand said:

News of this magnitude will see sterling over 70 to the baht later this week!

        Wow really .  over  40 , maybe ..

       EU or the USA ,    I feel a survey coming on.

 

 

 

 

 

and does anyone believe anything Trump says? 

58 minutes ago, Cryingdick said:

England has nowhere else to go. They are the pariahs of Europe. They would be wise to take any deal with the USA, because as it stands we are their best friends and maybe their only friends.

By England, I presume you are referring to the Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

 

It’s a curious place where, despite what Americans wish to believe, very many people do not regard the United States, let alone this President, a true friend.

How can anyone believe the words of a pathological liar........if you're not a US citizen that is a Republican?

First rule with Donald if he is speaking or tweeting chances are he is lying 

1 hour ago, legend49 said:

Duck its Donald. UK will not enter into trade negotiations for at least a year until Brexit is dead. Donald is desperate for trade seeing he has stuffed up all other trading countries with tariffs.

While I agree Trump isn’t doing at all well with any international deal (trade or otherwise), but a post Brexit Britain will be far more desperate for a deal than Trump’s America.

 

We now know, because we have been told, there will be no deal with the US unless the UK’s NHS is included.

 

Given concerns over the NHS were so very central to the Brexit Leave Campaign and Brexit voters the trade of the NHS for Brexit cannot be seen as anything other than an act of self harm.

 

The ultimate prize of Brexit, loss of the UK’s most treasured public institution.

 

Well done!

 

 

4 minutes ago, Joe Mcseismic said:

How can anyone believe the words of a pathological liar........if you're not a US citizen that is a Republican?

Spoiler alert...

 

They (Republicans) don't believe him either.

 

Literally, anyone (in the U.S.) over five years old, or not in a coma, acknowledges that he is an inveterate liar. And people say we're polarized. Pshaw.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 5, 20197 yr by mtls2005

Unfortunately after what this president has done regarding other international deals his shouts of bravado and biggly greatiness falls on deaf ears.

 

international leaders should follow japans lead. Tell him he is the bestest ever then sit back and wait until sanity is returned to the oval office.

1 minute ago, Sujo said:

Unfortunately after what this president has done regarding other international deals his shouts of bravado and biggly greatiness falls on deaf ears.

 

international leaders should follow japans lead. Tell him he is the bestest ever then sit back and wait until sanity is returned to the oval office.

But how long will it take for the sanity to arrive?

Not long ago people thought it can't get worse than George W.

What will come after Trump?

4 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

What will come after Trump?

 

Pence until 20 Jan 2021.

 

 

 

4 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Trump also stated that the NHS must be included in any trade deal.

 

Precisely as predicted all along by ’project fear’.

just what U.K. needed in difficult times …..Trump...

8 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

But how long will it take for the sanity to arrive?

Not long ago people thought it can't get worse than George W.

What will come after Trump?

Ivanka Trump...?????

43 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

By England, I presume you are referring to the Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

 

It’s a curious place where, despite what Americans wish to believe, very many people do not regard the United States, let alone this President, a true friend.

Come on …., in the resent politic U.K. he fit vey well..????, the only missing character in the whole soap , "Fawlty towers" beaten by "Westminster towers " ????   

Any deal with Trump is not worth the paper its written on. Another two years of this guy and his disastrous economic policies will have Americans will be lining up in droves for soup kitchens.

Thanks to the Brexiteers the UK has to bend over and take whatever the Mushroom Man stiffs you with. I feel genuinely sorry for all the Brits who didn't vote for this idiocy.

Trump is using the UK to further new USA trade deals by supporting Brexit, as he hates the EU, and of course naturally lapped up by May who probably still thinks her withdrawal deal is the best the UK would ever get from the EU.

 

Get ready to welcome chlorinated chickens...oh, and the NHS would be forced to pay excessive costs for US drugs as part of this proposed new trade deal, as American patients are first in the queue - according to Trump.

 

Brexiteers will soon come to the appreciation that life outside the EU umbrella would be like trekking up Everest - if they haven't got the right apparel and equipment  - let alone avoiding Trump like Yetis waiting to pounce, it's going to be the toughest climb ever. Forget it's going to be a breeze, trade deals are two a penny and all that kkrap and face the real world reality.

Edited June 5, 20197 yr by stephenterry
addition to text.

That's a good poodle. National Health is a small price to pay to make daddy happy. It's not like all Brits lose. Surely a few branch office higher up in American insurance companies will do well. A few at the top always do in the Yank system of business. The rèst have their bibles & guns to comfort them.