'BREXIT IS BREXIT'
Donald Trump slams Theresa May’s Chequers Brexit plan hours ahead of crunch UK visit – saying ‘I don’t know if that’s what they voted for’
DONALD Trump slammed Theresa May's Brexit plans today - just hours before he touched down in Britain for an official visit.
The President dropped a hand grenade into the Prime Minister’s plans just hours before he touched down in the UK for his first official visit.
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Speaking at a Nato summit in Brussels before he jumped on his official plane, he made it clear he doesn't approve of Mrs May's "soft Brexit" compromise.
Mr Trump told a press conference: "Well Brexit is, I’ve been reading a lot about Brexit over the last couple of days.
"And it seems to be turning a little bit differently, where they’re getting at least partially involved back with the European Union."
A journalist then asked if he was backing a “hard Brexit”, but the president misheard – thinking he had asked if it was “heart-breaking”, he replied: “That might be going a little too far!”
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Picking it up the theme he mused: “Is it heart-breaking? A lot of things are heart-breaking, no what I would say is that ‘Brexit is Brexit’.
“You know when you use the term ‘hard Brexit’ that’s what I assume that you mean.
“The people voted to break it up so I would imagine that what they’ll do, but maybe they’re taking a little bit of a different route.
“So, I don’t know if that’s what they voted for.”
He added: “I just want the people to be happy, they’re great people.”
Donald Trump refuses to back May over Brexit but says he wants to talk with his 'friend' Boris on UK trip
Trump's Europe visit so far:
- Before he left he declared the UK was in "turmoil", gave luke-warm support for Theresa May, and said he hoped to meet his "friend" Boris Johnson in Britain
- At an explosive Nato summit in Brussels President Trump threatened to pull out of Nato, but claimed victory when allies vowed to up their defence spending
- Ministers unveil their Brexit white paper today, as Tory MPs remain unhappy with it
- President Trump flew in to the UK this afternoon, before a dinner at Churchill's birthplace, Blenheim Palace
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Mr Trump's comments came as the UK Government published a long-awaited white paper laying out its negotiating position in upcoming talks with Brussels.
The paper will flesh out Mrs May's proposals agreed by the Cabinet at her country home of Chequers last week, which would see the UK keep existing European rules on goods, as well as creating a tariff-free customs zone between Britain and the EU.
The plans were intended to unite the Tories - but instead they led to the resignation of senior ministers Boris Johnson and David Davis.
The PM now faces a mass rebellion from her own MPs, with Brexit backers furious at what they see as a sellout of her previous promises
Mr Trump's press conference followed a Nato summit where he declared victory in his mission to persuade European leaders they need to spend more cash on defence.
The President said the US could leave the alliance if other countries' don't live up to their commitments to spend at least 2 per cent of GDP on the military.
This morning he dismissed the prospect of being met by huge protests on the streets of London when he touches down in the UK.
He told reporters: "I think it's fine. I think they like me a lot in the UK.
"I think they agree with me on immigration. I am very strong on immigration."
Parliament session suspended as labour MPs show their disapproval that they weren't given the white paper before Dominic Raab's statement
The full schedule for Donald Trump's visit
Thursday:
- Donald Trump touches down in Stansted on Air Force One, and then takes a helicopter to the US Ambassador's official residence near Regents Park in London
- Theresa May hosts President Trump and the First Lady for a black tie dinner at Blenheim Palace
- Military ceremony
- Dinner with top business bosses, tech leaders and defence chiefs
- Royal Regiment of Scotland perform for the President
- President and First Lady stay overnight at Winfield House
Friday:
- Donald Trump and Theresa May visit Sandhurst defence site
- Lunch at talks between the two leaders at Chequers
- May and Trump hold a press conference
- President and First Lady visit the Queen at Windsor Castle for tea
- The couple then travel to Scotland
Saturday
- President and First Lady travel spend the weekend north of the border - where he will visit his Turnberry golf course and hotel
Sunday
- President Trump travels to Helsinki for a summit with Russia's President Putin on Monday
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Mr Trump is having dinner with the PM and dozens of business leaders, before heading to London to spend the night at the US ambassador's residence, Winfield House.
Tomorrow he and Mrs May will visit the Sandhurst military academy and hold talks at her country home, Chequers.
He will then have tea with the Queen at Windsor Castle, before heading to Scotland where he'll spend the weekend at his Turnberry golf course in Ayrshire.