President Obama phoned newly appointed British Prime Minister Theresa May on Thursday to offer his congratulations, according to the White House.
“[Obama] offered his congratulations to her … and restated our oft-mentioned commitment to deepening our relationship with the U.K.,” White House press secretary Josh Earnest told reporters during his daily briefing Thursday. “He looks forward to working with Prime Minister May in his remaining six months in office to advance that goal.”
Earnest said he would follow up by providing more information about the content of the call to reporters later in the day.
Ahead of the Brexit vote, Obama wrote an op-ed in favor of former Prime Minister David Cameron’s support for remaining in the European Union. During a visit to London earlier this year, he also threatened that Britain would have to go the “back of the queue” when it comes to negotiating trade deals with the U.S. and the rest of the world if the British people voted in favor of leaving.
After the Brexit vote succeeded, Cameron stepped down, and Obama has walked back the threats, stressing instead his willingness to work closely with the new administration in Britain.
