President Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May pledged full cooperation on trade and other issues Friday, easing tensions following Trump’s explosive interview in which he criticized her handling of ‘Brexit’ and called into question a U.S.-U.K. trade deal.
In a joint press conference outside London, the two leaders touted the relationship between their countries and a commitment to work together on issues of national security, terrorism, border security, and trade.
Despite his interview with The Sun, Trump said he supported whatever decision May comes to regarding Brexit, Britain’s departure from the European Union, Fox News reported.
“Once the Brexit process is concluded—and perhaps the U.K. has left the EU, I don’t know, whatever you’re going to do is okay with us,” Trump said. “Just make sure we can trade together. That’s all that matters.”
Both leaders said their countries would work out a trade deal.
“We will do a trade deal with them and with others around the world,” May said. She said she and Trump came up with an “ambitious deal that works for both countries,” that would build on the U.K.’s independent trade policy.
Trump thanked May for “pursuing fair and reciprocal trade” with the U.S.
Trump also sought to ease tensions over his interview comments, saying he “didn’t criticize the prime minister” and suggesting the article left out the “tremendous things” he said about May. He said his aides have a tape of that interview, suggesting it could be released.
Standing next to May, he called her an “incredible woman” and “tough negotiator” who is doing a “fantastic job.”
Trump later called their relationship “the highest level of special” and added, “I would much rather have her as my friend than as my enemy, that I can tell you.” He instead reserved his most pointed criticism for Germany’s Angela Merkel, continuing to hammer her over a natural-gas pipeline deal with Russia.
“I think it’s a horrible thing that Germany’s doing,” he said.
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