President Trump decided to meet with Boris Johnson first while attending the G-7 Summit in Biarritz, France, throwing the full weight of his support behind the British prime minister and his commitment to Brexit.
“He needs no advice” on Brexit, Trump told reporters. “He’s the right man for the job. I’ve been saying that for a long time. It didn’t make your predecessor very happy,” referring to former Prime Minister Theresa May.
“You’re on-message there,” Boris quipped. “I’m very grateful for that,” adding the United States and the United Kingdom are looking forward to having extensive talks on trade.
“We’re having very good trade talks,” Trump said.
Trump further told reporters that it remains possible he will invite Russian President Vladimir Putin to the G-7 next year. Russia was banned in 2014 from what was then G-8, after their annexation of Crimea from the Ukraine.
“We had a very good discussion on Russia and President Putin; a lively discussion, but really a good one,” he said.
