President Trump has called on Britain to crash out of the European Union without a deal if Brussels refuses to give into its demands and recommended that London sends Nigel Farage — populist leader of the Brexit Party — to lead negotiations.
His comments, in an interview with the Sunday Times, mark his second intervention in British politics hours ahead of his arrival at Buckingham Palace in the United Kingdom for a state visit.
He will meet Theresa May, the British prime minister, for talks at No. 10 Downing St. on Tuesday days before she is due to stand down amid continuing Brexit turmoil. But he did little to hide his bemusement at how she had handled exit talks, leaving the EU with “all the cards.”
“I just think it is very hard for the U.K. to get a good deal when you go into negotiation that way,” he said.
“At the same time, I can’t blame the European Union because they had very little to lose. They had no downside. That is why they were . . . willing to give so little . . . It was always so tough.”
He said the British government should find a role for Farage in talks.
“He has a lot to offer,” said Trump. “He is a very smart person. They won’t bring him in. Think how well they would do if they did. They just haven’t figured that out yet.”
But ultimately, Britain must get the deal finalized this year, he said.
“They gotta get it done,” he added.
May and her colleagues are unlikely to find such comments helpful.
Farage has been a constant thorn in the side of her government as he pushes for an uncompromising exit deal. His Brexit Party is ahead in the polls and took first place in last month’s European elections despite being registered only four months ago.
Farage told the Washington Examiner he was still hoping to meet Trump during the visit but feared No. 10 was blocking the plan.
“My relationship with the president is still very good,” he said. “I saw him a couple of months ago and am in touch with the office. But as for next week … I just don’t know.”
A day earlier, Trump told the Sun newspaper he was backing Boris Johnson to become prime minister, even as Conservative members of Parliament are battling it out to succeed May.
