Trump asks Michael Gove for private meeting during UK trip

Request for talks casts doubt on president's backing for Boris Johnson as a 'great prime minister' in waiting

Donald Trump has asked Michael Gove for a private meeting during his state visit, in his biggest interference yet in the Conservative leadership race.

The US president has reached out to the environment secretary despite his praise for Boris Johnson as a potential “great prime minister” – and despite not holding one-to-one talks with Theresa May.

The move casts doubt on expectations that Mr Trump could formally endorse Mr Johnson. No meeting is yet planned between the pair.

The Independent understands that no timing for a meeting with Mr Gove has yet been fixed, but the president has space in his schedule both later today and early tomorrow.

Mr Gove – potentially Mr Johnson’s biggest rival in the contest – is a staunch supporter of the US and carried out his own interview with Mr Trump in the White House two years ago.

No 10 has already faced criticism that the president views Ms May as a lame duck, after it emerged that “a delegation” of ministers and officials will sit in on their talks today.

It appeared the White House – recognising she will only be around for a few more weeks – wanted to also hear from other voices in the government.

The prime minister’s spokesman rejected a BBC report that White House removed a one-to-one meeting from a schedule it circulated – insisting there was “nothing unusual” about the set up.

Earlier on Tuesday, Mr Trump has promised a "very, very substantial" trade deal with the UK after Brexit and joked that Ms May should “stick around” to achieve it.

At a meeting of business leaders, the US president ignored his past criticism of the prime minister’s negotiating strategy to praise the “fantastic job” she has done.

On the controversial talks on trade after Brexit, Mr Trump confirmed the two countries would be “working on that today” and “into the next couple of weeks”.

“I think we will have a very, very substantial trade deal, it will be a very fair deal,” he told Ms May, who was sitting opposite him.

“I think this something your folks want to do, my folks want to do and we want to do – and we are going to get it done.”

And, in what will be seen as dig at Ms May being forced from office, he joked: I don’t know exactly what your timing is, but stick around – let’s do this deal.”