Donald Trump has insisted the ‘special relationship’ between Britain and the United States is “the highest level of special” as he addressed reporters alongside prime minister Theresa May at Chequers.
The president described Brexit as an “incredible opportunity” and said whatever Britain does after leaving the European Union was “OK with me” – hours after telling The Sun newspaper that Ms May’s plan may “kill” any trade deal between the UK and the US.
Responding to questions about the interview, Mr Trump described the report as “fake news,” while Ms May added the pair had discussed plans for an “ambitious” trade agreement.
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Specially trained officers will patrol the processions after a previous demonstration in support of the EDL founder saw metal barriers and bottles being thrown at police.
Scotland Yard has already imposed restrictions on where the protestors can go “in order to prevent serious disorder and disruption to Londoners”.
Fears Tommy Robinson and Trump marches could combine and turn violent in London
Previous far-right demonstration saw metal barriers and bottles thrown at officers
He went on: "When a terrible incident happened... then surely you should recognise that the police and community have a job to do and what Sadiq has sought to do is bring people together in unity to keep London together, just as happened after 7/7 all those years ago.
"The statement by Donald Trump condemning the mayor and then going on with a general condemnation of Muslim migration into the United States is not helpful, in fact is very dangerous to community relations, and I think the statement that Sadiq has made in response is very good."
On the president's praise for Boris Johnson: "It's a very strange thing to do, to come on a visit to another country, to meet that country's prime minister, and then announce that you would like to see as her successor a person who's just resigned from her government.
"Well, Johnson resigned for the reasons that he gave, that is Johnson's business, that is Theresa May's business to respond to, it really isn't anything to do with Donald Trump."
On rolling out the red carpet for Mr Trump: "Personally I don't think we should have been rolling out the red carpet for Donald Trump.
"We should be having meetings with the US Government, the administration, as we always should, as we should with every other government in the world.
"We have to relate to other governments but you've got to be clear what you're doing.
"Are we rolling out the red carpet uncritically or saying, hang on, there are issues where we fundamentally disagree?"
Paul Robert, 45, who works in customer services, told The Independent he was "struggling to use words you can print" when asked why he had decided to come down to the protest.
"I just think he is a complete idiot," he said of the US president. "He does not understand how the world works. He does not understand what people think. He is aggressive. He is a narcissist. He is a misogynist. I think the world would be better off if he stuck to business not politics. He likes to get angry and get people that are already angry angrier. He is a spark to kindling and wants anything that gets him attention".
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Despite the humiliating interview, in which Mr Trump said the prime minister “didn’t listen” to his advice on Brexit, Ms May praised the American leader for “making tough calls and saying things that others would rather not say”.
“From the outset, President Trump has been clear about how he sees the challenges we face and on many we agree,” she added.
The second day of the American leader’s visit to the UK was marked by mass protests across Britain, with a huge blimp depicting him as a baby wearing a nappy flown by demonstrators in London.
The six-metre inflatable caricature took to the skies in Westminster as tens of thousands of demonstrators prepare to march through London’s streets.
Protests were also planned to take place outside Chequers and in Scotland, where the president leader will arrive on Friday evening after having tea with the Queen at Windsor Castle.
Mr Trump was heavily critical of the proposed EU deal thrashed out by Ms May her cabinet, warning it would “probably kill” any future UK-US trade agreement.
The US leader said he would have done the negotiations “much differently” and claimed the prime minister had not listened to his advice.
Mr Trump’s comments were condemned by a number of MPs, including the universities minister Sam Gyimah, who tweeted: “Where are your manners, Mr President?”
