LONDON — President Trump shocked the British government and almost certainly drew an exasperated sigh (at least) from Prime Minister Theresa May on Thursday evening, when he suggested her Brexit negotiating strategy would preclude a U.S.-U.K. trade deal.

Pursuit of that deal is a top priority for May. Speaking to The Sun newspaper, however, Trump argued that May’s outline post-Brexit relationship with the European Union would “probably kill the [prospective trade] deal.” The president said he fears May’s intended arrangement, outlined in a policy document on Thursday, would limit him to “dealing with the European Union.”