President Donald Trump said reports of tensions between him and Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May are a “false rumor” and the two leaders are on “the same wavelength.”
The comments came as Trump sat down with May in Davos, Switzerland, for his first meeting at the annual World Economic Forum. Their meeting follows Trump’s recent cancellation of a February trip to London amid expectations of mass protests against him.
May had publicly rebuked Trump in November after the president shared anti-Muslim videos from the far-right group Britain First, and she also did so months earlier after Trump’s comments critical of Britain after a terrorist attack in London. In each case Trump wrote snarky tweets directed at May.
Earlier this month, a spokesman for May said she disagreed with Trump’s use of the word “shithole” to describe African countries during a closed-door immigration meeting with U.S. lawmakers.
“It’s a false rumor” that there is tension in the relationship between the U.S. and the United Kingdom, Trump said. “We’re on the same wavelength in, I think, every respect.”
The two leaders are “liking each other a lot” and “joined at the hip” when it comes to military cooperation. Trump looked at May and said nothing could happen to Britain in which the U.S. would not come to its aid.
May also affirmed what has long been called the “special relationship” between the two countries. When asked about a state visit for Trump in London, May said it’s being discussed now. Britain’s invitation was extended to Trump a year ago but has seemed all but forgotten amid the subsequent tensions, and some in Parliament have called for rescinding the overture.
Earlier, as Trump arrived at the conference, where the consensus has long favored open global markets and trade agreements that he criticizes, he was asked if he was being well received.
The president, surrounded by attendees straining to see him, replied, “I already am. Look, you take a look. You tell me.”
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