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[webfact]

UK PM May promises frank talk with Trump after women protest

By Kylie MacLellan

REUTERS

 

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May arrives at the BBC's Broadcasting House in London, Britain January 22, 2017. REUTERS/Neil Hall

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister Theresa May promised on Sunday to challenge any "unacceptable" talk when she meets President Donald Trump later this week, as she tries to secure Britain's "special relationship" with the new U.S. administration.

 

May, Britain's second female premier, made the comments after thousands of women marched in London on Saturday to protest about Trump's attitude to women, joining demonstrations held in major cities across the globe.

 

She told the BBC she would use Friday's meeting in Washington to discuss issues including future U.S.-UK trading relations, following Trump's promise to put "America first" in his inauguration speech on Friday.

 

Since Britons voted last year to leave the European Union, May's government has been keen to deepen ties with the United States and other nations outside Europe to show that Brexit will not diminish its standing in the world.

 

May indicated she would not shy away from any difficult issues, when asked about the controversy over Trump's comments on women. This erupted last year during the presidential election campaign over a 2005 video in which he boasted about grabbing women's genitals.

 

"I've already said that some of the comments that Donald Trump has made in relation to women are unacceptable, some of those he himself has apologised for," May said.

 

"When I sit down (with Trump) I think the biggest statement that will be made about the role of women is the fact that I will be there as a female prime minister," she said. "Whenever there is something that I find unacceptable I won't be afraid to say that to Donald Trump."

 

Trump's election has raised questions over the future of the so-called "special relationship" that has underpinned close British-American ties for decades, but the new U.S. leader has said he believes Brexit will be "a great thing".

 

May, who initially struggled to build relations with Trump's team, said she would also use the meeting to discuss the NATO defence alliance and challenges such as defeating terrorism and the conflict in Syria.

 

COUP FOR MAY

 

Becoming one of the first world leaders to meet with Trump following his inauguration will be viewed as a coup for May, who was perceived to have been snubbed by the billionaire following his election when he spoke first to nine other world leaders.

 

She will be trying to improve relations with Trump after he irritated the British government by meeting Nigel Farage, an outspoken anti-EU campaigner and critic of May, and saying he would be a good choice for Britain's ambassador to Washington.

 

Opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn cast doubt on whether Trump, who has promised to protect American jobs and industry from foreign imports, would offer Britain much.

 

"There were no signs of any special relationship in Donald Trump's inauguration speech. Quite the opposite, it was 'America first, America only'," he told Sky News.

 

"The idea that Donald Trump is suddenly going to roll over and offer some trade deal with Britain which doesn’t have strings attached ... I think she needs to be extremely careful."

 

British newspapers were divided on the visit, with the Sunday Telegraph reporting Trump calls May "My Maggie", referring to her predecessor Margaret Thatcher, who enjoyed a close relationship with her U.S. counterpart Ronald Reagan in the 1980s.

 

The front page of the Mail on Sunday however, ran the headline: "Cut out your sexist insults, Mr President".

 

Brexit supporters have cheered comments by Trump that he wants to arrange a swift bilateral trade deal with Britain, but others have cautioned his protectionist policies make an agreement which is good for Britain unlikely.

 

The Telegraph also reported plans were underway for a state visit to Britain later this year by Trump, who has played up his ancestral ties to Britain, saying in an interview this month that his Scottish mother was "so proud" of Queen Elizabeth.

 

(Additional reporting by William James; Editing by Mark Potter and David Stamp)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters Full story:

[zaphod reborn]

Trump will only have meaningful discussions with May in exchange for wiping his enormous tax debt from his failed Scottish golf courses.

[elgordo38]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister Theresa May promised on Sunday to challenge any "unacceptable" talk when she meets President Donald Trump later this week, as she tries to secure Britain's "special relationship" with the new U.S. administration.

Typical politicians statement. The truth be known she holds her nose and sits down and discusses business with the Donald. Politician to politician its only business personalities and human behavior really don't matter. We both serve the same master big business. 

[Emster23]

I think she will be first in line for rude awakening. Will be tilting at Scottish windmills in the visit. I wonder if Trump will need a translator? After all, she does speak the Queen's English, not Queens English, and I bet she knows and uses some big words.

[Thakkar]

Trump looked at that picture of May and said, "She's a "3" at most. And what's with the teeth,? See a dentist, sheesh! Can Kushner meet with her? I'd rather have a meeting with Ivanka"

Edited January 23, 2017 by Thakkar

[elgordo38]

28 minutes ago, Thakkar said:

Trump looked at that picture of May and said, "She's a "3" at most. And what's with the teeth,? See a dentist, sheesh! Can Kushner meet with her? I'd rather have a meeting with Ivanka"

The many faces and voice of Donald Trump. Its amazing in politics how you can insult other politicians and they come back for more sit down and negotiate with you and praise you absolutely sickening. Masochism self deprecation one has to wonder.

[uptheos]

Despite all the jokes etc, I believe Teresa May will come back to England with good news.

There is no way she;s going to let the opportunity of being the first diplomat to visit the WH

go astray, certainly not because of Madonnas mouth. And what a sock in the jaw for Obama, from' you will need to get at the back of the queue' to being the first, but there again Obama never did get much right did he?

[dunroaming]

I am afraid that May is an embarrassment all round and sucking up to Trump to try to get a trade deal is all she will want to discuss.  Trump knows that Britain are in a weakened position over brexit and will try to take advantage of that.  Can May "negotiate" a good deal with the "America first" president?  Fat chance! 

[connda]

Much ado about nothing    Best of luck to May on lecturing Trump.  What could go wrong?

[uptheos]

15 minutes ago, dunroaming said:

I am afraid that May is an embarrassment all round and sucking up to Trump to try to get a trade deal is all she will want to discuss.  Trump knows that Britain are in a weakened position over brexit and will try to take advantage of that.  Can May "negotiate" a good deal with the "America first" president?  Fat chance! 

I'd have a bet with you but of course gambling is illegal in Thailand.

Personally, I think May will come away with some very favorable results.

She's already got one up on obama, from the back of the queue to the front.

[dunroaming]

Well we won't know for another two and a half years minimum.  That is when we can actually negotiate a trade deal with whoever is in the White House at the time.  That will then take at least 18 months to be agreed and by then Trump will be long gone anyway.  In the meantime Trump will say that May is fabulous and May will say that Trump is great.

[elgordo38]

34 minutes ago, uptheos said:

I'd have a bet with you but of course gambling is illegal in Thailand.

Personally, I think May will come away with some very favorable results.

She's already got one up on obama, from the back of the queue to the front.

You could be right. Trump could be in a generous mood at the beginning of his term and throw her a bone and say "see what a nice guy I am" But as more line up to kiss the ring it could be a different story. If the lights go a bit dim in the US its only Trump having a power surge. 

[dunroaming]

7 minutes ago, elgordo38 said:

You could be right. Trump could be in a generous mood at the beginning of his term and throw her a bone and say "see what a nice guy I am" But as more line up to kiss the ring it could be a different story. If the lights go a bit dim in the US its only Trump having a power surge. 

But we all know that Trump will promise the world and then not deliver anything.  Just hot air and posturing.

[tx22cb]

" the Sunday Telegraph reporting Trump calls May "My Maggie", referring to her predecessor Margaret Thatcher"

Careful, Ms Prime Minister.  I suspect Trump's brain is not thinking about Maggie Thatcher, but about Rod Stewart's Maggie May.

So keep a large handbag in front of you at all times whilst in his presence.

[nuakmuaynina]

I saw a few interviews with her over the weekend, she did not give any indication of any tough talking, if anything she needs to do some serious sucking up now Europe all hate her.

 

She is an ineffectual PM, the sooner she goes the better.

[Basil B]

Maybe she needs a few lessons in slapping down a perv with wandering hand trouble...

[uptheos]

She will be as sweet as pie, maybe call him a naughty boy and guaranteed to come away with the most favourable deal that anyone will get. I wonder who will be second in the qyueue