Donald Trump looked serious today as he faced Theresa May for the first time since he accused her of wrecking Brexit as his extraordinary red carpet trip to Britain continues.
The US President’s relationship with the Prime Minister is on the rocks after he blasted her ‘softer’ exit from the EU saying it would kill off chances of a trade deal with America.
Mr Trump, who will meet the Queen for the first time at Windsor Castle later, also claims she did the ‘opposite’ of his negotiation advice and admitted Boris Johnson would make a ‘great Prime Minister’ in a series of verbal hand grenades tossed following their Blenheim Palace gala dinner last night.
Today Mr Trump and Mrs May are spending the morning together watching military manoeuvres and meeting the SAS at Sandhurst before heading off to Chequers for lunch on the second day of his four-day trip.
The Prime Minister was waiting as he came off Marine One at Britain’s top military academy, and although it is not known what he said the meeting did look business-like rather than warm.
Mrs May’s trusted Foreign Office minister Sir Alan Duncan insisted today that the four-day trip had been a ‘great success’ – but critics say he ‘should keep his nose out of British business’ and even suggested the Queen should cancel today.
Meanwhile protests over his visit continue today with a giant balloon depicting him as an orange baby in a nappy inflated in Parliament Square.
Around two miles away First Lady Melania was being given a tour of London by Mrs May’s husband Philip, starting at the Royal Hospital Chelsea.
This is the moment Donald Trump met Theresa May after dropping his Brexit bombshell and the leaders looked serious
Donald Trump waves to crowds as he leaves the London home of US Ambassador Woody Johnson as he spends a likely uncomfortable day with Theresa May after he blasted her over Brexit
Mr Trump has already had a bumpy start to his four-day trip with some critics saying he should not intervene in UK business
Marines salute their Commander-in-Chief as he gets on to Marine One and heads off to meet the PM
Today is Mr Trump’s final day in England before he heads to Scotland, where his mother was born and he owns several golf resorts
His visit has sparked mass protests and a controversial giant balloon depicting the US President as a baby in a nappy was inflated in Parliament Square just as Mr Trump’s air entourage flew over (circled)
First Lady Melania is getting a tour of London with Philip May today starting at the Royal Hospital Chelsea where she will meet the veteran pensioners and local children
London Mayor Sadiq Khan signed off on the Trump blimp and the US President last night accused him of abjectly failing to stop the wave of terror attacks on the capital last year.
Last night President Trump and Melania spent the night at the US Ambassador’s home in Regent’s Park and was flown by Marine One to Sandhurst to avoid protests on the streets of London.
His extraordinary entourage of up to 1,000 staff, a giant motorcade led by his bomb-proof Cadillac nicknamed ‘The Beast’ as well as multiple helicopters including Ospreys containing US Marines followed him down there.
After the likely tense meetings with the PM, Mr Trump will be treated to a Guard of Honour when he meets the Queen at Windsor Castle for tea this afternoon.
Despite not being an official state visit, the Government is desperate to ensure the US leader feels he is being treated with the appropriate level of pomp and ceremony.
He will then fly up to Scotland this evening before a weekend of golf at one of his resorts with his son Eric this weekend before jetting to Helsinki to meet Vladimir Putin on Monday.
Protesters have pledged to follow him wherever he goes in Britain and 10,000 police officers have been drafted in to protect him – the largest number deployed since the 2011 riots.
Almost two million people signed a petition demanding he be banned from the UK because they believe he is sexist and racist and ‘Stop Trump’ campaigners say he will face a ‘Wall of Sound’ outside all the landmarks he visits because supporters will bang pots and pans.
When asked about the threat of mass demonstrations yesterday he said: ‘I think it’s fine. A lot of people like me there. I think they agree with me on immigration. I think that’s why Brexit happened’.
US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are welcomed at Blenheim Palace by Prime Minister Theresa May and her husband Philip May before his extraordinary intevention on Brexit last night – and all four looked extremely serious
Awkwardly grabbing Theresa May hand ay Blenheim – in a replay of their White House meeting last year – Trump was treated to a fanfare welcome by the Scots, Irish and Welsh Guards bands
British police snipers watch from the roof of Winfield House as Donald Trump leaves after a night there with First Lady Melania
An Osprey helicopter carrying US Marines follows Mr Trump in Marine One (right) down to Sandhurst for his meeting with Theresa May
A road block is in place at Chequers ahead of Theresa May’s lunch with Donald Trump at the PM’s country estate in Buckinghamshire
Last night Mr Trump waded into the Brexit row, saying Theresa May’s Chequers agreement will ‘kill’ a US trade deal.
The US President said he offered the Prime Minister advice on how to negotiate Brexit, but she ignored him and did the ‘opposite’.
And in comments sure to infuriate his host, he said Boris Johnson would make a ‘great’ Prime Minister.
In an interview with The Sun yesterday, Mr Trump said: ‘If they do a deal like that, we would be dealing with the European Union instead of dealing with the UK, so it will probably kill the deal.’
Ahead of talks with Mrs May at Chequers today, he added that he would have approached Brexit differently and had offered his advice, but said Mrs May had ignored him.
‘I would have done it much differently. I actually told Theresa May how to do it, but she didn’t listen to me,’ he said.
Mr Trump’s characteristically undiplomatic intervention twisted the knife on a day when Mrs May’s Brexit deal was published and immediately torn to shreds by her own MPs.
One said: ‘This is not going to fly. If the Prime Minister does not drop it, it will kill her.’
President Trump and Melania walked from Air Force One as they landed at Stansted Airport yesterday in a 24 hours where he intervened on Brexit
Donald Trump raises his fist in the air as he lands at the US Ambassador’s historic London home at the start of his four-day tour and the couple spent the night there last night
Protesters gathered at the security fence watch as US President Donald Trump and US First Lady Melania Trump leave in Marine One yesterday
His aerial entourage followed him, and included an Osprey helicopter carrying elite troops from the US Marine Corps protecting him in the UK
Donald Trump’s motorcade speeds through Regent’s Park led by elite British police from Scotland Yard
Days of protests are planned for The Donald’s visit, including a march through central London tomorrow and everywhere he is visiting
Mr Trump also threatened to further strain relations with Mrs May by saying Mr Johnson would make a ‘great’ Prime Minister, and he was saddened to see the former Foreign Secretary resign earlier this week.
In a scathing attack, he said Mrs May’s Chequers deal did not respect the referendum result and would have a ‘negative’ effect on a trade deal with the US.
‘The deal she is striking is a much different deal than the one the people voted on,’ he said.
‘It was not the deal that was in the referendum. I have just been hearing this over the last three days. I know they have had a lot of resignations. So a lot of people don’t like it.’
He added that Mrs May’s plan ‘will definitely affect trade with the United States, unfortunately in a negative way’.
He concluded: ‘No, if they do that, I would say that would probably end a major trade relationship with the United States.’
Mr Trump said Mrs May had not listened to his advice on Brexit, adding: ‘I would have done it much differently. She wanted to go a different route. I would actually say that she probably went the opposite way. And that is fine.
‘She should negotiate the best way she knows how. But it is too bad what is going on.’
Following comments Mr Johnson made previously that Mr Trump would do a good job of negotiating Brexit, the President said: ‘I have a lot of respect for Boris. He obviously likes me, and says very good things about me.
‘I was very saddened to see he was leaving government and I hope he goes back in at some point. I think he is a great representative for your country.
‘I am not pitting one against the other. I am just saying I think he would be a great Prime Minister. I think he’s got what it takes.’
Mr Trump also threatened to reignite his feud with London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who has granted permission to fly a giant blimp of the President over London.
The pair have clashed on Twitter over terrorism in London. Last night, Mr Trump accused Mr Khan of doing a ‘very bad job’ on terrorism.
‘You have a mayor who has done a terrible job in London. He has done a terrible job.
‘Take a look at the terrorism that is taking place. Look at what is going on in London. I think he has done a very bad job on terrorism.
‘He has done a bad job on crime, if you look – all of the horrible things going on there, with all of the crime that is being brought in.’
Mr Trump also made a series of controversial comments about immigration and the migrant crisis which will infuriate European leaders, adding: ‘I think what has happened to Europe is a shame. Allowing the immigration to take place in Europe is a shame.
‘I think it changed the fabric of Europe and, unless you act very quickly, it’s never going to be what it was and I don’t mean that in a positive way.
‘So I think allowing millions and millions of people to come into Europe is very, very sad.
‘I think you are losing your culture. Look around. You go through certain areas that didn’t exist ten or 15 years ago.’
Last night, Mrs May tried to mend fences with Mr Trump at a black-tie dinner at Blenheim Palace, telling him the UK and US remained ‘not just the closest allies, but the dearest of friends’.
The Prime Minister said Brexit presented an ‘unprecedented opportunity’ to work more closely with US.
‘Baby Trump’ balloon flies above London as tens of thousands demonstrate against President’s visit after he said he feels ‘unwelcome’ in capital
A ‘baby Trump’ balloon has been erected in Parliament square as tens of thousands take to the streets to protest President Trump’s controversial visit to the UK.
Hours after he landed in London for a four-day tour of the UK, President Donald Trump says he feels ‘unwelcome’ in England’s capital and a 20ft ‘Baby Trump’ blimp made in his likeness is to blame.
The inflated giant blimp made headlines after London Mayor Sadiq Khan permitted the controversial balloon to be flown during Trump’s stop in the city.
The ‘baby Trump’ balloon has been erected in Parliament square as tens of thousands take to the streets to protest President Trump’s controversial visit to the UK
Trump hovers next to the statue of former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill as it soars through London
As the President woke up in the UK, the blimp soared in the skies above Parliament Square beside a Union Jack flag
Hours after he landed in London for a four-day tour of the UK, President Donald Trump said he felt ‘unwelcome’ in England’s capital and said the 20ft ‘Baby Trump’ blimp made in his likeness is to blame
The President proceeded to throw jabs at Mayor Khan, not only for allowing the baby blimp to fly above protests in London that are set to take place this week during his stay, but also for his criticism on Trump’s travel ban on citizens from predominately Muslim countries
The inflated giant blimp made headlines after London Mayor Sadiq Khan permitted the controversial balloon to be flown during Trump’s stop in the city
Hours after he landed in London for a four-day tour of the UK, President Donald Trump says he feels ‘unwelcome’ in England’s capital and a 20ft ‘Baby Trump’ blimp made in his likeness is to blame
Trump, who arrived in Britain on Thursday, told the Sun newspaper that planned protests against him in London and other British cities made him feel unwelcome so he was avoiding the capital as much as possible.
‘I guess when they put out blimps to make me feel unwelcome, no reason for me to go to London,’ Trump told the newspaper.
‘I used to love London as a city. I haven’t been there in a long time. But when they make you feel unwelcome, why would I stay there?’
Britain regards its close ties with the United States, which it calls the special relationship, as a pillar of its foreign policy and Prime Minister Theresa May has courted Trump ahead of the country’s departure from the European Union.
But some Britons see Trump as crude, volatile, unreliable and opposed to their values on a range of issues. More than 64,000 people have signed up to demonstrate in London against Trump’s visit while other protests are expected around the country.
A few hundred people gathered to watch the blimp launch in Parliament Square, with organisers of the stunt wearing red boiler suits and red baseball caps emblazoned with ‘TRUMP BABYSITTER’.
After counting down from 10 to 1 a cheer went up as the large balloon rose to fly around 10 metres off the ground, next to parliament and the River Thames.
A demonstrator stood in a cage in London during the visit by the America President
Protesters gathered in Westminster, London to take part in the ‘Stop Trump’ rally this morning
Trump said that planned protests against him in London and other British cities made him feel unwelcome so he was avoiding the capital as much as possible
Opponents of Donald Trump flew the six-meter blimp depicting the U.S. president as an orange, snarling nappy-wearing baby just outside the British parliament
A few hundred people gathered to watch the blimp launch in Parliament Square, with organisers of the stunt wearing red boiler suits and red baseball caps emblazoned with ‘TRUMP BABYSITTER’
After counting down from 10 to 1 a cheer went up as the large balloon rose to fly around 10 metres off the ground, next to parliament and the River Thames
Organiser Daniel Jones, a charity communications officer aged 26, said they were trying to make people laugh as well as making a serious point. ‘It’s also about giving a boost to those in America resisting his policies,’ he said
One man dressed as a guerrilla and wore a Trump plastic mask, stood inside a large metal cage
London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who was criticised by Trump for failing to control crime and prevent militant attacks, gave his blessing for the blimp to be flown and rejected suggestions this showed a lack of respect to the U.S. president
‘The idea that we restrict freedom of speech, the right to assemble, the right to protest because somebody might be offended is a slippery slope,’ Sadiq Khan told BBC radio, adding that a protest to welcome Trump was also planned
The Trump Big Baby inflatable Blimp is installed in Parliament Square as hundreds of people look on
The inflated giant blimp made headlines after London Mayor Sadiq Khan permitted the controversial balloon to be flown during Trump’s stop in the city. But the balloon didn’t seem to fare so well with the president
Organiser Daniel Jones, a charity communications officer, said they were trying to make people laugh as well as making a serious point.
‘It’s also about giving a boost to those in America resisting his policies,’ the 26-year-old said.
One man dressed as a guerilla and wore a Trump plastic mask, stood inside a large metal cage.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who was criticised by Trump in the Sun interview for failing to control crime and prevent militant attacks, gave his blessing for the blimp to be flown and rejected suggestions this showed a lack of respect to the U.S. president.
‘The idea that we restrict freedom of speech, the right to assemble, the right to protest because somebody might be offended is a slippery slope,’ he told BBC radio, adding that a protest to welcome Trump was also planned.
‘We have a rich history in this country of having a sense of humour as well.’
More than 50 events have been planned nationwide in a ‘carnival of resistance’ today, with the balloon kicking things off
Osprey helicopters fly overhead as the 20ft high cartoon baby blimp of U.S. President Donald Trump is inflated
The centerpiece of demonstrations is in protest against Trump’s policies on issues ranging from immigration and race relations to women and climate change
The balloon is intended to be a symbol for all those campaigning against Mr Trump’s controversial policies
Although he may not be a fan of the blimp, it looks like it’ll be following him as he ventures to Scotland later this week.
Protesters are planning to transport the balloon to Scotland overnight to fly it at Trump’s Turnberry golf course, where he is set to play on Saturday, according to The Hill.
Police Scotland says, however, that protesters are not allowed to fly the balloon at the estate during the president’s visit.
‘Clearly there is a significant protection operation in place for the president and this includes restrictions to the airspace in the Turnberry area.
‘We need to ensure there is a balance between protection and public safety and the public’s right to peacefully protest,’ Assistant Chief Constable Mark Williams said.
‘With that in mind and on this occasion we are unable to grant permission for the balloon to fly in that area, however we are in discussion with the applicants about possible alternatives,’ he added.
‘I used to love London as a city. I haven’t been there in a long time. But when they make you feel unwelcome, why would I stay there?’ he said to The Sun.
Around 9,000 people signed a petition urging authorities in Scotland to grant the same permission for Turnberry as in London
Although he may not be a fan of the blimp, it looks like it’ll be following him as he ventures to Scotland later this week
Protesters are planning to transport the balloon to Scotland overnight to fly it at Trump’s Turnberry golf course, where he is set to play on Saturday
The balloon rose over Parliament Square in central London as part of the protests against the president’s visit
Campaigners plan to transport the 20ft high caricature blimp north of the border after flying it over central London as Donald Trump begins his visit to the UK. They had hoped to fly it over the South Ayrshire golf resort on Saturday to coincide with the president’s visit there
Sadiq Khan defended his approval of the giant ‘baby Trump’ blimp flying above London during the visit by the US President
The city’s Mayor has come under fire after his Greater London Authority approved plans by protesters to fly the balloon in the centre of London during a demonstration against Mr Trump’s visit
Mr Khan insisted there is freedom of speech and freedom to protest in the UK and he could not act as a ‘censor’
‘I guess when they put out blimps to make me feel unwelcome, no reason for me to go to London,’ Trump added.
He proceeded to throw jabs at Mayor Khan, not only for allowing the baby blimp to fly above protests in London that are set to take place this week during his stay, but also for his criticism on Trump’s travel ban on citizens from predominately Muslim countries, according to USA Today.
‘You have a mayor who has done a terrible job in London. He has done a terrible job. Take a look at the terrorism that is taking place. Look at what is going on in London,’ Trump said.
‘He might not like the current president, but I represent the United States,’ he added.
Piers Morgan asked the mayor if he would have endorsed a giant black baby blimp of Barack Obama in protest during his presidency, or an image depicting Mr Khan as a pig despite that being offensive to Muslims
The 20ft (6m) high inflatable, dubbed ‘Trump baby’, has been granted permission to rise above Parliament Square Gardens for two hours this morning
Mr Khan said he supported the decision taken by the Greater London Authority, adding that it was not for him to be a ‘censor’
Mr Khan and the American leader have engaged in a long-running war of words over issues like crime and terrorism
It is believed that more than 50,000 take to the streets of the capital to protest against the President’s visit
Mr Trump’s schedule will largely keep him out of central London and it seems unlikely that the US president will come close enough to Westminster to see the blimp
Mr Khan said it was important that the UK could be ‘candid’ with the US as a close ally, saying ‘that’s how special relationships work’
Upwards of 10,000 police officers will be deployed to keep the US commander-in-chief and his wife Melania away from trouble during his visit
Its appearance in central London was controversially approved by the Greater London Authority
Matthew Butcher, an anti-Trump campaigner and one of the ‘babysitters’ of the balloon, said: ‘I think that the thing that the Trump balloon does is that it brings an element of fun to the protests, but it also gets under Donald Trump’s very thin skin.’
The balloon, which depicts the American leader as an angry infant wearing a nappy and clutching a mobile phone
The nappy-clad balloon, with a quiff of hair and a mobile phone for tweeting, is to soar over the Houses of Parliament
The ‘Baby Trump’ balloon is pictured here being inflated in London’s Parliament Square
Police Scotland said that protesters are not allowed to fly the balloon at the estate during the president’s visit
Sadiq Khan hits back at Trump’s jibe that he has done ‘a very bad job’ protecting London from terrorism saying the US president has NOT criticised mayors of other cities targeted by extremists
Sadiq Khan hit back at Donald Trump today after the US president accused him of doing a ‘very bad job’ on terrorism and crime.
The London Mayor questioned why he was being ‘singled out’ after Mr Trump renewed their feud in bombshell comments during his UK visit.
The president said Mr Khan was failing to tackle extremism and crime in the city – blaming high levels of immigration.
But Mr Khan said other major cities had suffered terror attacks, and asked why Mr Trump was ‘making it about me’.
‘He criticised the mayor of London – me personally – for the terror attacks we had last year. But the evil of terrorism has been grappled with in Manchester, Berlin, Paris, Nice,’ he told ITV’s Good Morning Britain.
‘Why has he singled me out?’
Mr Trump has clashed with the Labour mayor repeatedly in the past, including over his administration’s visa policy and most recently over Khan’s decision to allow a gigantic Trump blimp to fly over London.
Sadiq Khan hit back at Donald Trump today after the US president accused him of doing a ‘very bad job’ on terrorism and crime
Speaking on the eve of his visit to Britain yesterday, the president (left with Melania in London) said Khan (right) was doing a ‘terrible job’ in the capital by allowing migrants to flock to the city
Protesters gathered at the security fence watch as US President Donald Trump and US First Lady Melania Trump leave in Marine One from the US ambassador’s residence, Winfield House
Speaking to The Sun, Trump said: ‘Take a look at the terrorism that is taking place. Look at what is going on in London. I think he has done a very bad job on terrorism.’
He added: ‘I think he has done a bad job on crime, if you look, all of the horrible things going on there, with all of the crime that is being brought in.’
London was devastated by four terror attacks last year – at Westminster, London Bridge, Parsons Green and Finsbury Park.
Trump also accused Mr Khan, who is muslim, of failing to show respect for the world’s wealthiest and most powerful nation.
Trump also accused Khan of failing to show respect for the world’s wealthiest and most powerful nation. Pictured: Trump being greeted at Blenheim Palace yesterday
US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are welcomed at Blenheim Palace by Britain Prime Minister Theresa May and her husband Philip May
‘I think he has not been hospitable to a government that is very important,’ he said. ‘Now he might not like the current president, but I represent the United States.
‘I also represent a lot of people in Europe because a lot of people from Europe are in the United States.’
A source close to Khan told The Sun that it is the responsibility of the Home Office to determine London’s migration policy, as well as that of the UK as a whole.
Mr Khan said the Prime Minister should not be afraid to challenge the Republican property mogul, who also provoked anger by criticising her Brexit plans and praising her rival, Boris Johnson, as having the ability to be a ‘great prime minister’.
‘I’m quite clear that both the UK and the US have a special relationship that means we stand shoulder to shoulder at times of adversity,’ the Labour mayor said.
Tottenham MP Mr Lammy said the president knows full well that Mr Khan is not responsible for the attacks
‘But at times where we think the other side is not meeting the high standards we expect of each other we shouldn’t be afraid of calling them out – that’s like having a best mate.’
He added: ‘I think our Prime Minister should have the confidence to speak to the US President on equal terms and it’s for President Trump to say what he wants about me; I’m not going to rise to President Trump’s views.’
Tottenham MP Mr Lammy said the president knows full well that Mr Khan is not responsible for the attacks.
‘I will call it like it is. The real reason Trump blames my friend @SadiqKhan for the terror attacks last year is simple,’ he tweeted.
‘He hates that London chose a Muslim mayor. The President is racist. He does not deserve to meet our Queen today #StopTrump.’
Britain is ‘losing its culture’ because of immigration and ‘it’s never going to be what it was’ if politicians don’t ‘act soon’ says Trump
President Donald Trump has warned Britain that it is ‘losing its culture’ by allowing ‘millions and millions’ of people to move to the continent.
He said that mass migration has changed Europe in a negative way – and that without quick action, it will never be the same again.
It comes after the continent’s migration crisis has made headlines yet again this year as hundreds of thousands of people – mostly from Africa and the Middle East – make dangerous journeys to reach Europe illegally.
Trump said that mass migration has changed Europe in a negative way – and that without quick action, it will never be the same again. Pictured: Migrants off the coast of Libya in 2015 at the height of the migration crisis
US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are welcomed at Blenheim Palace by Britain Prime Minister Theresa May and her husband Philip May
Speaking to The Sun in Brussels before coming to Britain yesterday, Mr Trump said: ‘I think what has happened to Europe is a shame. Allowing the immigration to take place in Europe is a shame.
He added: ‘I think it changed the fabric of Europe and, unless you act very quickly, it’s never going to be what it was and I don’t mean that in a positive way. So I think allowing millions and millions of people to come into Europe is very, very sad.
‘I think you are losing your culture. Look around. You go through certain areas that didn’t exist ten or 15 years ago.’
He also said that crime was being ‘brought in’ to London and criticised Sadiq Khan – with whom he has clashed several times already – over his failure to prevent it.
Mr Trump said: ‘I think what has happened to Europe is a shame. Allowing the immigration to take place in Europe is a shame.’ Pictured: Thousands of migrants move through Slovenia at the height of the migration crisis in 2015
The president added that he has ‘great love’ for European countries – particularly because he is ‘essentially a product of the European Union’.
That is because his mother was Scottish and father was of German ancestry.