Donald Trump and Theresa May hold hands again during Chequers meeting, prompting immediate outcry

'I have got to know her better than ever,' the president said during the press conference

Donald Trump and Theresa May have held hands once again, during the president's visit to the UK.

The president took the prime minister's hand as the two made their way downstairs to hold a press conference at Chequers. It was actually the second time the two had held hands this trip – with Ms May having helped him up the steps at Blenheim Palace.

It comes after an embarrassing photo showed the two walking hand-in-hand during Ms May's visit to the White House last year. Footage of that incident prompted international criticism and ridicule, but Downing Street said it was a "chivalrous gesture".

This time around, the two were once again walking down stairs. The pair were on their way to give a press conference at Chequers, where they have been holding bilateral talks as part of Mr Trump's working visit.

The image prompted immediate uproar and jokes, with many wondering why the two had opted to hold hands given the negative response the gesture was greeted with at the White House.

There have been repeated suggestions that Mr Trump is afraid of ramps and stairs. But after the White House visit, Downing Street said that Mr Trump had offered his hand to Ms May.

An interview before Mr Trump's meeting with Ms May, in which the president suggested that her Brexit deal would destroy any potential trade deal with the US, threatened to sour their relationship.

But the press conference itself was amicable, with the the two praising each other during questioning. Mr Trump said he had "got to know her better than ever", and rejected the interview as "fake news".

During the press conference, British Prime Minister Theresa May disagreed —politely— with U.S. President Donald Trump's warning that her Brexit plans could scuttle a US-UK free trade deal after the UK leaves the European Union.

May says her plan "provides the platform for Donald and me" to strike an "ambitious" trade deal.

Trump and May are holding a news conference after talks at the prime minister's country residence, Chequers, and after Trump gave an interview to The Sun newspaper slamming her and praising her rival Boris Johnson.

May praised the strength of the US-UK bond. But in a gentle rebuke, May said "it is all of our responsibility to ensure that trans-Atlantic unity endures."