British Prime Minister Theresa May said she was advised by President Trump to sue the European Union rather than negotiate with them over “Brexit” during his visit to the United Kingdom.
During their joint press conference Friday, Trump mentioned he had given May some advice, but noted she found it “too brutal.” Asked about that during an interview with the BBC’s Andrew Marr, May said that the longtime businessman advised her to take legal action.
“He told me I should sue the EU — sue the EU — not go into negotiations, sue them,” she said. “Actually, no, no, we’re going into negotiations with them. But interestingly what the president also said at that press conference was don’t walk away — don’t walk away from negotiations, because then you’re stuck.”
President @realDonaldTrump told me I should sue the European Union,” says Prime Minister @theresa_may#marr pic.twitter.com/LfVzMKOXMJ
— The Andrew Marr Show (@MarrShow) July 15, 2018
Two years ago, the United Kingdom voted to withdraw from the EU. With the deadline for the U.K. to leave the bloc approaching early next year — March 29 — May released a plan last week to keep the United Kingdom and EU in a free-trade zone for goods while committing to adherence to some EU rules for goods and agricultural products, stirring backlash among Brexit supporters.
May was forced to reshuffle her Cabinet following multiple high-profile resignations, including British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and Brexit Secretary David Davis.
A Sun report published Thursday claimed Trump, while dining with May, accused his British counterpart of “wrecking Brexit” and jeopardizing trade relations between the two countries. However, during their joint press conference Friday, Trump called that interview “fake news” and said a bilateral trade deal “will absolutely be possible” once Brexit is complete.
