The United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union Thursday, spurring the resignation of Prime Minister David Cameron and a drop in markets, as well as praise—or resigned acceptance—from major American political figures.
In a statement this morning, Donald Trump lauded Brexit as “the sacred right of all free peoples” and framed the U.S. election in similar terms.
“Come November, the American people will have the chance to re-declare their independence,” his statement read. “Americans will have a chance to vote for trade, immigration and foreign policies that put our citizens first.”
The businessman again hailed the exit as a victory that emulated his own campaign during his visit to mark the opening of his golf resort in Scotland Friday, telling reporters that the Brits “took back their country.”
“They’re angry over borders. They’re angry over people coming into the country and taking over, and nobody even knows who they are,” he said. “They’re angry about many, many things.”
He also claimed that President Obama precipitated the exit and slammed opponent Hillary Clinton for following along.
“Obama came over here and was so bold as to tell people here what to do. And I think that a lot of people don’t like him and I think if he had not said it, I think your result might have been different,” he said. “And then [Clinton] doubled down and she did the same thing.”
As for the falling British pound, Trump said it would be good for business.
“Look, if the pound goes down, they’re going to do more business. When the pound goes down, more people are coming to Turnberry,” he said, referring to his golf resort.
Hillary Clinton, meanwhile, said in a statement that she respected the decision of the United Kingdom, and that she would prioritize the economic safety of American families post-Brexit.
“We respect the choice the people of the United Kingdom have made,” her statement read. “Our first task has to be to make sure that the economic uncertainty created by these events does not hurt working families here in America.”
Clinton also reaffirmed the U.S.-UK alliance and—in an implicit dig at her opponent—said steady leadership was necessary in unstable times.
“This time of uncertainty only underscores the need for calm, steady, experienced leadership in the White House to protect Americans’ pocketbooks and livelihoods, to support our friends and allies, to stand up to our adversaries, and to defend our interests,” the statement said. “It also underscores the need for us to pull together to solve our challenges as a country, not tear each other down.”
President Obama’s statement also reaffirmed American-British relations and underscored the importance of NATO, a military alliance Trump has heavily criticized.
“The people of the United Kingdom have spoken, and we respect their decision,” his statement said. “The special relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom is enduring, and the United Kingdom’s membership in NATO remains a vital cornerstone of U.S. foreign, security, and economic policy.”
Obama’s statement also praised the U.S. relationship with the European Union, calling both the U.K. and the E.U. “indispensable partners.”
“Our relationship with the European Union, … has done so much to promote stability, stimulate economic growth, and foster the spread of democratic values and ideals across the continent and beyond,” the statement read. “The United Kingdom and the European Union will remain indispensable partners of the United States even as they begin negotiating their ongoing relationship to ensure continued stability, security, and prosperity for Europe, Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the world.”
Despite his diplomatic statement, Obama threatened in April to neglect trade with the UK in favor of the EU if Brexit were to occur.
“Maybe some point down the line there might be a U.S.-U.K. trade agreement, but it’s not going to happen any time soon because our focus is in negotiating with a big bloc, the European Union, to get a trade agreement done,” Obama said at a press conference with David Cameron. “The U.K. is going to be in the back of the queue.”
