Donald Trump has waded into British politics again, addressing the key question facing pro-leave right-wingers inthe forthcoming general election.
The president said he hoped prime ministerBoris Johnson, a “wonderful guy”, and Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage would come together on a united political platform.
The president spoke to reporters at the White House after returning froma visit to New York to watch a UFC fight, an evening which produced both boos and cheers and stokedfierce debate on Sunday.
Asked which British politician he would side with if he had to choose, Trump said: “I like them both… So I think Boris will get it right. They’re both friends of mine. What I’d like to see is for Nigel and Boris to come together. I think that’s a possibility. ”
Farage said on Sundayhe would not runfor a seat in the general election. Johnson hasalready rejected the suggestionfrom both Trump and Farage that he should work with the Brexit party.
Instead, Johnson has talked up the prospect of a post-Brexit trade deal with the US as one of the biggest prizes of leaving the European Union.
Trump said: “Boris is the right man for the time. He’s really for the times. He’s a great gentleman. He’s a wonderful guy. He’s tough, he’s smart and I think he’s going to do something. ”
Speaking to Farageon the British politician’s LBC radio showearlier this week, Trump said Johnson’s proposed Brexit deal would prevent the UK and US from striking a trade deal of their own and described the situation as “Completely ridiculous”. Downing Streetrejectedthat claim.
On Sunday, Trump indicated that if the UK made a clean break with Europe, as opposed to remaining in the customs union in any form, the US would be in a better position to strike a trade deal.
“We’re far and away the No1 economy in the world, ”Trump said,“ and, if you do it a certain way, we’re prohibited from trading with the UK. That would be very bad for the UK because we can do much more business than the European Union. ”
In his broadcast conversation with Farage (onThursday, Trump also disparaged the Labor leader, Jeremy Corbyn.
In response, Corbyntweeted: “Donald Trump is trying to interfere in Britain’s election to get his friend Boris Johnson elected. ”
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