Donald Trump criticises Theresa May’s handling of Brexit negotiations in Piers Morgan interview

'I would have taken a tougher stand in getting out,' President says

Donald Trump has criticised Theresa May’s handling of Brexit negotiations, stating he would have taken a “tougher stand” over how Britain exits the EU.

In an interview with Piers Morgan, which will be broadcast on ITV on Sunday, the US President also claimed he had been invited to make two visits to the UK this year by the Prime Minister.

When asked if Ms May was in a “good position” regarding the ongoing Brexit talks, Mr Trump replied: “Would it be the way I negotiate? No, I wouldn’t negotiate it the way it’s [being] negotiated.

“I would have had a different attitude,” he added, in footage seen by the Daily Mail ahead of its broadcast.

“I would have said that the European Union is not cracked up to what it’s supposed to be. I would have taken a tougher stand in getting out.”

Mr Trump also told Mr Morgan he had not been surprised by the result of the EU referendum in 2016.

“I said [that] because of trade, but mostly immigration, Brexit is going to be a big upset. And I was right,” he said. “I know the British people and understand them.

“They don’t want people coming from all over the world into Britain, they don’t know anything about these people.”

The US President also said he had been invited to make two trips to the UK this year, a working visit likely to take place in July following a Nato summit in Brussels, as well as a state visit in October.

When asked if he would be making the trip, Mr Trump replied: “Yeah, I’ll be there. She [Ms May] just invited me. Twice.”

The President’s visit to Britain will go ahead “later this year” it was reported this week, after Mr Trump met Ms May at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Following their joint conference, a Downing Street spokesman said the two leaders reiterated “their desire for a strong trading relationship” after Britain’s exit from the European Union.

The spokesman added: “The Prime Minister and President concluded by asking officials to work together on finalising the details of a visit by the President to the UK later this year.”