Trump London protests - as it happened: President denies taped criticism of May as '100,000' protest US leader in London
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Your support makes all the difference.Donald Trump has insisted the ‘special relationship’ between Britain and the United States is “the highest level of special” as he addressed reporters alongside prime minister Theresa May at Chequers.
The president described Brexit as an “incredible opportunity” and said whatever Britain does after leaving the European Union was “OK with me” – hours after telling The Sun newspaper that Ms May’s plan may “kill” any trade deal between the UK and the US.
Responding to questions about the interview, Mr Trump described the report as “fake news,” while Ms May added the pair had discussed plans for an “ambitious” trade agreement.
Following his Chequers meeting, Mr Trump headed to Windsor Castle to meet the Queen. But the president quickly defied royal protocol by walking ahead of the monarch during an inspection of the Coldstream guards.
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Despite the humiliating interview, in which Mr Trump said the prime minister “didn’t listen” to his advice on Brexit, Ms May praised the American leader for “making tough calls and saying things that others would rather not say”.
“From the outset, President Trump has been clear about how he sees the challenges we face and on many we agree,” she added.
The second day of the American leader’s visit to the UK was marked by mass protests across Britain, with a huge blimp depicting him as a baby wearing a nappy flown by demonstrators in London.
The six-metre inflatable caricature took to the skies in Westminster as tens of thousands of demonstrators prepare to march through London’s streets.
Protests were also planned to take place outside Chequers and in Scotland, where the president leader will arrive on Friday evening after having tea with the Queen at Windsor Castle.
Mr Trump was heavily critical of the proposed EU deal thrashed out by Ms May her cabinet, warning it would “probably kill” any future UK-US trade agreement.
The US leader said he would have done the negotiations “much differently” and claimed the prime minister had not listened to his advice.
Mr Trump’s comments were condemned by a number of MPs, including the universities minister Sam Gyimah, who tweeted: “Where are your manners, Mr President?”
Hundreds of people watched the Air Force One touch down at a nearby viewing area set up by an airport near Glasgow.
A Trump jet, used by the president's family, was already parked outside a hangar at Prestwick Airport when Air Force One touched down.
The US president gave a wave before descending the steps with the first lady.
They were met briefly by Scottish Secretary David Mundell before driving off in a vehicle with the US and Scottish flags displayed on the bonnet.
Mr Mundell said Mr Trump told him he was "pleased to be here" and that the UK's relationship with the US was "very important".
Eric Trump had spent Thursday at the Trump golf course in Aberdeenshire and had said he was looking forward to spending the weekend with his father.
Donald Trump has arrived at his resort in Turnberry, South Ayrshire. He's expected to spend the majority of his weekend there, enjoying the golf course.
Here's a little detail from the other side of the pond about the indictments of 12 Russian intelligence officers by US special counsel Robert Mueller. It comes just days before Donald Trump's much publicised meeting with Vladimir Putin.
Twelve Russian military intelligence officers hacked into the Clinton presidential campaign and Democratic Party, releasing tens of thousands of stolen and politically damaging communications, in a sweeping conspiracy by the Kremlin to meddle in the 2016 US election, according to a grand jury indictment announced days before Donald Trump's summit with Vladimir Putin.
The indictment stands as special counsel Robert Mueller's first allegation implicating the Russian government directly in criminal behavior meant to sway the presidential election.
US intelligence agencies have said the meddling was aimed at helping the Trump campaign and harming the election bid of his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton. The effort also included bogus Facebook ads and social media postings that prosecutors say were aimed at influencing public opinion and sowing discord on hot-button social issues.
The indictment lays out a broad, coordinated effort starting in March 2016 to break into key Democratic email accounts, such as those belonging to the Democratic National Committee, the Clinton campaign and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Among those targeted was John Podesta, the Clinton campaign chairman.
The Kremlin denied anew that it tried to sway the election. "The Russian state has never interfered and has no intention of interfering in the US elections," Mr Putin's foreign affairs adviser, Yuri Ushakov, said on Friday.
But the indictment identifies the defendants as officers with Russia's Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff, also known as GRU. It accuses them of covertly monitoring the computers of dozens of Democratic officials and volunteers, implanting malicious computer code known as malware and using phishing emails to gain control of the accounts of people associated with the Clinton campaign.
Another satirical sign at the anti-Trump protests in London today. Billionaire financier and philanthropist George Soros is a popular hate figure among much of the right.
The first edition of tomorrow's newspaper front pages are emerging. Here's the Daily Mail's unique interpretation of today's events.
The Daily Telegraph claims to have the inside track on the advice Donald Trump gave Theresa May over Brexit, which she apparently chose to ignore.
In an interview with Steve Bannon, the president's former adviser said Ms May was told to "demand far more than she ever expected to get" and to maintain "momentum", as a dragged out negotiation would lead to no deal.
The Mirror is less effusive about Donald Trump than the Daily Mail...
And here is The Independent's front page. Subscribe to our daily edition here
Meanwhile, Greenpeace have managed to get a protester mightily close to the president, using a microlight dragging a banner behind it, at his Turnberry golf resort.
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