Donald Trump promises Theresa May he will visit UK this summer
The President and Prime Minister said they would ask officials to set a date - weeks after he backed out of coming to open the US embassy in London
DONALD Trump last night promised Theresa May he will come to Britain this summer after all as he tried to patch up their shaky relationship.
His visit could include talks at Chequers and tea with the Queen at Windsor Castle.
The two leaders met in the Swiss Alps to put on a show of warmth after an embarrassing public fall out two months ago. But there were no cheek kisses or hand holding between the PM and the US President this time.
And after their 40 minute chat in the margins of the World Economic Forum in Davos, the duo parted with a formal handshake - a sign there is still a chill between them.
Mrs May still nodded firmly as the billionaire leader branded their fall out “a false rumour”.
Setting aside his fury at being slapped down by the PM over his far right video retweets, Mr Trump said: “The Prime Minister and myself have a really great relationship.
“Some people don’t really believe that, but I can tell you it’s true.”
The president assured the PM that Britain and the US are “joined at the hip” militarily, and America will always “fight for you”.
He also rekindled hopes for a good post-Brexit traded deal, promising Mrs May that there will be “tremendous increases in trade” soon.
And Mr Trump added: “We love your country”.
Insisting they pair had “a great discussion”, Mrs May told him in return: “We continue to have that really special relationship between the UK and the United States, standing shoulder to shoulder because we are facing the same challenges across the world”.
No10 sources last night revealed that Mr Trump’s trip will still only be a lower profile working visit.
That will leave the Queen’s formal invitation for a full blown state visit with pomp and ceremony – issued 12 months ago - still outstanding.
Mr Trump has told Mrs May he does not want to be booed on the Mall.
The president is most likely to come either just before or after the NATO summit in Brussels on July 11 and 12.
The pair clashed three times at the end of last year, over the Iran nuclear deal, the US Embassy in Israel’s move to Jerusalem and worse of all after Mr Trump retweeted ugly videos issued by the UK-based far right group Britain First.
MOST READ IN POLITICS
The property billionaire pulled out of a planned visit to London this week to open America’s new embassy in London.
But within minutes of the new visit announcement, political critics threatened to protest at it.
Lib Dem Deputy Leader Jo Swinson said: “Trump is a dangerous, misogynistic racist and is deserving of the protests he will undoubtedly face.
“If and when he comes to the UK the Liberal Democrats will be at front and centre of the protests.”