Donald Trump says Theresa May messed up Brexit by ‘handing EU all the cards’
THERESA May screwed up Brexit negotiations by being too soft on EU chiefs and leaving them with “nothing to lose”, Donald Trump insists.
President Trump says the outgoing PM failed to persuade MPs to ratify her deal because she did not issue enough threats to Brussels during the two years of talks.
His blunt comments will further humiliate Mrs May, who is already being forced to resign as Tory leader by her own MPs at the end of next week.
But despite his renewed bluntness on Brexit, Mr Trump also insisted he still respects the PM.
In his exclusive interview with The Sun, he said: “I think that the UK allowed the European Union to have all the cards.
“And it is very hard to play well when one side has all the advantage.
“I had mentioned to Theresa that you have got to build up your ammunition.
“I am sure that you could have built up a big advantage for your side and negotiated from strength.
“You have to build up your side in terms of points, or you are just going in and asking, I mean it was just asking and you know, they would say whatever they wanted.”
Delivering the withering verdict, Mr Trump — who prides himself on his deal-making prowess — added: “They had nothing to lose. They didn’t give the European Union anything to lose”.
But he swiftly insisted: “At the same time, I respect Theresa and she would certainly know the facts a lot better than I know them.”
Mr Trump’s undiplomatic intervention comes ahead of an already difficult day of talks between the two leaders in No10 on Tuesday.
The pair are expected to clash over the Huawei telecoms controversy and Iran.
The US boss also risked derailing his first trip to Britain as president last year.
He had attacked Mrs May’s Chequers blueprint for a close relationship with the EU on the eve of his arrival then too — also with an interview to The Sun. Conceding it was now an odd time to hold talks with a lame-duck PM who has already announced she is standing down within weeks, Mr Trump said: “Well, this is the date that was chosen a long time ago.
“Nobody knew that you would be doing these thing at this particular time.
“Who knew this was going to happen?”
He also insisted the pair had got on well through their two years together in office, despite rumours in Washington that she bored him with repeated telephone lectures.
Mr Trump insisted: “I have had a nice relationship with Theresa May. I have had a good relationship with her, and we will talk about things. Maybe there are some things that will be very productive.
“I think we will have productive talks anyway.”
Corbyn invite mistake
DONALD Trump has accused Jeremy Corbyn of “making a mistake” by snubbing the Queen’s state banquet in his honour.
The Labour leader is one of several senior Westminster figures to refuse Her Majesty’s invitation to Buckingham Palace on Monday night.
Mr Trump insisted he was not hurt “at all” by the calculated boycott.
But he told The Sun it was an error by the Opposition Leader.
He added: “No, no, I am not offended. I don’t know Mr Corbyn. I wouldn’t be offended at all by that”.
Reminded the Labour chief could soon become PM, Mr Trump added: “Well I think then he is probably making a mistake because I think he would want to get along with the United States.”
While refusing to honour the US President, Mr Corbyn has said he wants to meet him during the trip to tackle him on multiple areas of disagreement.
Asked if we would be prepared to see Mr Corbyn next week, Mr Trump refused a direct answer and would only say: “Somebody said he would like to meet me.
“I don’t know anything about going to a dinner or not going to a dinner, but I know he wants to meet me.”
Lib Dem leader Sir Vince Cable, the SNP’s Westminster boss Ian Blackford and Commons Speaker John Bercow are all boycotting the sate banquet as well.
Mr Bercow has also refused to issue an invitation to Mr Trump to address Parliament — a gesture afforded to several of his predecessors including Ronald Reagan, George W Bush and Barack Obama.
Mr Corbyn has also previously blasted Theresa May for offering Mr Trump a state visit — the highest honour the country can bestow on another head of state.
He said the PM should “not roll out the red carpet” for a President who “rips up vital international treaties, backs climate change denial and uses racist and misogynist rhetoric”.
But Mr Corbyn added: “I would welcome a meeting with President Trump to discuss all matters of interest.
“Maintaining an important relationship with the United States does not require the pomp and ceremony of a state visit.”
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