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?”
Donald Trump has arrived at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst.
The president flew into the British Army's official training centre on his helicopter Marine One, preceded by two accompanying helicopters.
He was greeted by Theresa May upon landing.
Shortly after his arrival, two large helicopters circled over the military facility as locals watched on from the roadside.
Simon Fraser, former permanent secretary at the Foreign Office, has described Donald Trump's criticism of Theresa May as "patronising" and "outrageous".
The permanent secretary is the most senior civil servant in the department, so Mr Fraser's opinions hold weight.
He served in the role between 2010 and 2015.
Leading Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg has said Donald Trump's criticism of Theresa May were "perfectly reasonable".
The Tory MP once described Barack Obama as "splendidly arrogant" for warning the UK against leaving the EU, saying "no true, honest Briton is going to be told what to do by a Yankee president".
But Mr Rees-Mogg claimed Mr Trump's intervention was different.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today progamme, he said: "[Mr Obama] was coming during an election period, whereas what Donald Trump has set out is primarily his view on whether the US will do a trade deal with United Kingdom on the basis that we adopt the common European rulebook and stick to all the EU's rules.
"He's saying 'Well, that's a choice for you, that if you do that, you won't be able to make a deal with the US'.
"That's a perfectly reasonable thing for an American president to say and there's no election going on at the moment, so it's not trying to persuade us to do something in an election that we wouldn't otherwise do."
First lady Melania Trump has arrived at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, where she will meet retired soldiers and local schoolchildren.
She is joined at the hospital by the prime minister's husband Philip May.
The hospital was founded as a retirement home for soldiers by King Charles II in 1682, and the Chelsea pensioners are famous for their distinctive scarlet coats.
Donald Trump's meeting with the Queen should be cancelled following his criticism of Theresa May and Sadiq Khan, Labour MP Wes Streeting has suggested:
The value of the pound slumped this morning after Donald Trump warned Theresa May's Brexit plans could "kill off" a UK-US trade deal.
His comments sparked a sterling sell off, with the pound shedding 0.6 per cent against the dollar to trade at 1.31.
Versus the Euro, sterling was down 0.2 per cent at 1.12.
The president has now left Sandhurst and is flying by helictoper to Chequers, where he will hold talks with Theresa May.
Donald Trump has arrived at Chequers, and has told reporters he and Theresa May "probably never developed a better relationship'' than during last night's dinner at Blenheim Palace.
Whether that relationship survived until this morning, following his outspoken criticism of the prime minister, is another question.
Mr Trump and Ms May will now hold talks - expected to be about trade and security - before emerging for a press conference at 1.45pm.
Downing Street is keen to point out that Donald Trump's bombshell Sun interview, in which he warned Theresa May's Brexit plan could "kill" off a US-UK trade agreement, was conducted before the UK government published the white paper yesterday.
A spokeswoman said the prime minister would be bringing the president "up to speed" on the details.
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