Donald Trump said the interview published by the Sun omitted his praise of May, and that his staff had taped the interview: “It's called fake news and we solve a lot of problems with the good old recording instrument.”
Addressing a joint press conference at the end of their bilateral talks at the prime minister’s country residence, Chequers, Trump said, “She’s a total professional.”
“I said, ‘I want to apologise because I said such good things about you,’ And she said, ‘Don’t worry, it’s only the press,'” Trump said of their purported conversation.
Trump added that he wished the Sun newspaper put the “tremendous things” he said about May in its headline, but acknowledged, “That’s one of those things.”
Trump said the interview published by the Sun omitted his praise of May, and that his staff had taped the interview: “It’s called fake news and we solve a lot of problems with the good old recording instrument.”
Trump has insisted the US-UK relationship is “the highest level of special”. He said Brexit was an “incredible opportunity” and “whatever” the UK did after it left the EU was “OK with me”.
Trump described Brexit as a “very tough situation… between the borders and the entries into the countries and all of the things”, saying: “The only thing I ask is that she work it out so that we can have very even trade”. Trump said: “The relationship between our two nations is indispensable to the cause of liberty, justice, and peace.”
Prime Minister May said they had discussed plans for an “ambitious” trade agreement. May said the US was “keen” to do a deal with the UK, adding: “We will do a trade deal with them and with others around the rest of the world”.
She maintained the government’s Brexit agreement “delivers” on the referendum vote. In the interview with the Sun, Trump – who has been a long-time supporter of Brexit – said May had not listened to his advice on how to do a Brexit deal, saying: “I would have done it much differently.”