President Donald Trump hailed a "most special relationship" with Britain and threw his support behind Brexit Friday, as he hosted British Prime Minister Theresa May for his debut on the diplomatic stage. At a tense moment in trans-Atlantic relations, Trump tried to recast the "deep bond" as a meeting of ideological minds: two countries embracing populist policies and taking an uncompromising view of the national interest.
Trump pointed to Britain's exit from the European Union as a "wonderful thing" and said: "When it irons out, you're going to have your own identity, and you are going to have the people that you want in your country." "You're going to be able to make free trade deals without having somebody watching you and what you are doing," he added.
May brushed aside deep-seated differences on issues from torture to Russia, to pursue a diplomatic charm offensive aimed at securing commitments on trade and mutual defence.
May conveyed an invitation from Queen Elizabeth II for Trump to come to Britain for a state visit later this year. The pair even briefly held hands as they walked down the West Wing colonnade. Trump greeted May himself upon her arrival at the White House and then they went to the Oval Office, posing and shaking hands in front of a bust of Winston Churchill. Behind closed doors, May was expected to give Trump an engraved quaich - a ceremonial cup exchanged by Scottish highland chiefs - in a nod to Trump's Scottish ancestry. His mother was born on the island of Lewis.
For First Lady Melania Trump, May was to gift a hamper of apple juice, damson plum jam, marmalade, Bakewell tarts and cranberry and white chocolate shortbread cookies.
But May also came with a diplomatic shopping list. Trans-Atlantic relations have been rocked by Trump's election and his willingness to rethink NATO, the UN and other foundation blocks of the liberal world order. With Trump largely silent on these issues during a joint press conference, May conveyed what had been said in private. "We've reaffirmed our unshakeable commitment to this alliance," she said. "Mr President, I think you confirmed that you were 100 percent behind NATO." Much of Britain's military power, including its nuclear deterrent, depends on US equipment and systems.
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