Brexit plan could kill US trade deal

President Donald Trump has said the UK will "probably not" get a trade deal with the US, if the prime minister's Brexit plan goes ahead.

He told The Sun the PM's plan would "probably kill the deal" as it would mean the US "would be dealing with the European Union" instead of with the UK.

Downing Street has not yet reacted to Mr. Trump's remarks.

Theresa May has been making the case for a US free trade deal with Mr. Trump, on his first UK visit as president.

She said Brexit was an "opportunity" to create growth in the UK and US.

Mr. Trump also said that former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson would make a "great prime minister", adding "I think he's got what it takes".

In his interview, he renewed his criticism of London Mayor Sadiq Khan over last year's terror attacks in the capital, saying he had done "a terrible job".

The president and his wife were given a red carpet reception at Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire on Thursday evening.

They were at a black-tie dinner with Mrs May as news broke of his interview with the newspaper, which said it was conducted while he was in Brussels.

After it was published, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said the president "likes and respects Prime Minister May very much", adding that he had "never said anything bad about her".

Mr. Trump told The Sun newspaper that the UK's blueprint for its post-Brexit relations with the EU was "a much different deal than the people voted on".

He said the Brexit proposals Mrs May and her cabinet thrashed out at Chequers last week "will definitely affect trade with the United States, unfortunately in a negative way".

"We have enough difficulty with the European Union," he said, adding that Mrs. May's plan "would probably end a major trade relationship with the United States."

On Friday, Mrs. May and Mr. Trump will go to watch a joint counter-terrorism exercise by British and US special forces at a military base.

The pair will then travel to Chequers - the PM's country residence in Buckinghamshire - for talks with Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt.

Extra security is in place to police protests planned for the second day of Mr. Trump's visit.

The president and first lady will travel to Windsor on Friday afternoon to meet the Queen, before flying to Scotland to spend the weekend at Mr. Trump's Turnberry golf resort. This part of the visit is being considered private.

SOURCE: BBC News
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