Donald Trump confirms Theresa May will be first world leader to meet him in the White House after ‘clearing the decks’ for PM

THERESA May will fly out to meet Donald Trump this week — and push for a post-Brexit trade deal with America.

The PM will beat other world rivals to the White House as a guest of the new US president when she meets with him on Friday.

And she hopes it will help catapult Britain to the front of the queue for a money-spinning exports agreement.

President Trump has ordered aides to clear the decks and fast-track Mrs May’s visit to cement the “special relationship” between the two countries.

It honours a pledge he gave last week to move “very quickly” to secure a trade deal once Britain leaves the EU.

A source said last night: “The President wants to show he means business — and hopefully we’ll be able to do business, as well.”

Trade will be top of the agenda but they will also discuss tackling terrorism, the Syrian war, relations with Russia and funding Nato.

Last night the White House confirmed the visit will take place this week. Mrs May is expected to travel to Washington on Thursday, ahead of other major world leaders such as Germany’s Angela Merkel.

America is keen to rekindle the Reagan-Thatcher area now they have a new populist in the White House and a strong woman at Number 10 again.

President Trump has hailed Ronald Reagan, another outsider to enter the White House, as his political hero and even borrowed his slogan to “make America great again”. The PM shares the incoming President’s hopes they can build a relationship to match the successful teamwork he struck up with Mrs Thatcher in the 1980s.

The early VIP invite is a major coup for Mrs May and puts the seal on a successful week which began with her well-received speech detailing her Brexit plans.

Mrs May spoke briefly to Mr Trump after his election victory — when she was 11th in line on his traditional round of phone calls.

But she revealed that he was “very easy to talk to”, despite taking him to task during the presidential election campaign. Plans for the visit were secretly worked out over the past week, with officials across Whitehall involved in the final 48 hours before Friday’s inauguration.

High on the agenda will be the war on terror after Mr Trump vowed to destroy ISIS.

Mrs May will pledge Britain will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the US and play a vital role in the campaign.

America is conducting about 90 per cent of bombing missions against ISIS — but Britain is the second largest contributor of other coalition members.

Mr Trump is bound to raise his concerns that Europe is not digging deep enough to fund Nato, with America stumping up 75p in every pound spent.

He is sure to get a vow from her that Britain will continue to pay its fare share and will continue to spend two per cent of national income on defence. She will also pledge to twist the arms of EU partners to contribute more.

He has already hailed Brexit as “a great thing” for Britain.

But she is bound to warn the new President of the risks of getting too close to Vladimir Putin.

Mrs May is expected to spend two days in Washington but it will be a business-like visit without any razzmatazz events.

She has hinted she is confident of striking up a good relationship.

Last night Downing Street refused to be drawn on the date of any visit. A spokesman said: “We are still finalising plans.”

Meanwhile, Nigel Farage will be made a “close but unofficial adviser” to Mr Trump, Phil Bryant, the Governor of Mississippi and a key ally of the new President said at a party in Washington on Thursday.