President Trump on Tuesday said it is “up to the people” of Britain to decide if Prime Minister Theresa May should remain in power, amid recent turmoil over her Brexit strategy.
“Well, that’s up to the people. I get along with her very well. That’s certainly up to the people,” Trump told reporters prior to departing the White House for his upcoming NATO summit.
The president’s response comes days before he is slated to meet with May during his first visit to the United Kingdom since taking office. White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said Monday the visit would continue as planned, despite a widening split in Parliament that led two Cabinet ministers to resign earlier this week.
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson left his post on Monday, saying in a statement about his decision that Brexit is “dying, suffocated by needless self-doubt.” His resignation came 24 hours after David Davis, the minister in charge of Britain’s negotiations to split off from the European Union, submitted his resignation.
The back-to-back defections have placed May’s political future in doubt, with some wondering if critics within her own party will attempt to force her out.
If 48 members of parliament endorse a change of leadership, a contest could be held to replace May. But it would take at least 159 MPs to vote a replacement into office.
