Donald Trump blasts Theresa May for ‘not listening to me’ on Brexit saying it’s tearing the UK apart
DONALD Trump today hit out at Theresa May for her handling of Brexit – saying the issue is “tearing the country apart”.
The US President said he was “surprised how badly it’s all gone” and suggested the PM should have taken his advice and sued the EU.
Earlier today, Mr Trump provided a boost to Mrs May by pledging to cut a trade deal with the UK after Brexit.
But hours later, he hit out at the PM’s handling of our EU exit and said it had divided Britain.
Speaking alongside Irish leader Leo Varadkar at the White House, Mr Trump said: “It’s a very complex thing right now, it’s tearing a country apart, it’s actually tearing a lot of countries apart and it’s a shame it has to be that way but I think we will stay right in our lane.
“I’m surprised at how badly it’s all gone from the standpoint of the negotiations. I gave the Prime Minister my ideas of how to negotiate it, she didn’t listen to that and that’s fine but it could have been negotiated in a different manner.
“The EU has been very tough to deal with and frankly it’s been very one-sided for many years so we are changing that around.”
But he warned against holding a second referendum, saying it would be “unfair” to rerun the 2016 vote.
I’m surprised at how badly it’s all gone
Donald Trump
The US President previously advised Mrs May she should sue the EU rather than pursuing formal negotiations over Brexit.
Last year, he told The Sun he thought the PM had bungled talks and warned she could damage hopes of a trade deal with the US if she got it wrong.
At the time he said: “I would have done it much differently. I actually told Theresa May how to do it but she didn’t agree, she didn’t listen to me.”
The President then had to backtrack to avoid a diplomatic incident with Britain.
Mr Trump tweeted this morning: “My Administration looks forward to negotiating a large scale Trade Deal with the United Kingdom. The potential is unlimited!”
US ambassador Woody Johnson welcomed the President’s words, saying: “Great for the #SharedProsperity of both our countries!”
And Trade Secretary Liam Fox responded: “Again President Trump has shown his ambition for a large scale future trade agreement between our two countries.
“Greater trade between us reinforces a comprehensive alliance the goes far beyond the economic, providing for our national security and bringing prosperity to our people. I look forward to sitting down at the negotiating table to strengthen this special trading relationship.”
Britain and the US can’t agree a comprehensive trade deal until after the UK is out of the EU and the European customs union.
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But the two sides have engaged in preliminary talks ever since the 2016 referendum.
Today’s comments from the President comes as the PM ramps up her bid to get the Brexit deal approved at the third attempt.
She is expected to hold a third “meaningful vote” in the Commons next week.
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