Washington – Donald Trump on Saturday said he was looking forward “very much” to an upcoming meeting with British Prime Minister Theresa May, after earlier statements from the US president-elect caused consternation in London.
“I look very much forward to meeting Prime Minister Theresa May in Washington in the Spring. Britain, a longtime U.S. ally, is very special!” Trump tweeted.
No official date for the meeting has yet been announced, though it is expected to come within weeks of Trump’s inauguration on January 20.
Westminster was left discomfited in November by a report that Trump had issued a more off-hand invitation to the British premier.
“If you travel to the US, you should let me know,” he told May, according to a transcript of a telephone conversation quoted by “The Times” newspaper.
Further upset was caused when Trump suggested that Nigel Farage, on-off leader of the populist, anti-immigrant UK Independence Party and a key campaigner for Britain to leave the European Union, should be made British ambassador to the United States.
“Many people would like to see @Nigel_Farage represent Great Britain as their Ambassador to the United States. He would do a great job!” Trump tweeted. Farage had helped campaign for Trump and appears to have struck up a warm friendship.
Trump’s unprecedented demand put May in the awkward position of having to dismiss the suggestion and deny that there was a vacancy in Washington.
Farage, a long-time irritant of the British establishment, was also regarded as having upstaged the prime minister by flying out to meet Trump at his home in New York shortly after his November election.
– dpa
