Donald Trump has insisted the NHS would be “on the table” in any post-Brexit trade talks. “When you’re dealing with trade everything is on the table. So NHS or anything else, a lot more than that,” the US president said at a press conference with Theresa May.
He earlier promised, not for the first time, a “very substantial” post-Brexit trade deal with the UK as he met Ms May on the second day of his state visit, following a lavish royal banquet at Buckingham Palace.
The leaders met at a business roundtable event and discussed issues including the role of Huawei in the UK’s 5G network during a bilateral encounter. But after the US president's team reportedly requested a closed-doors meeting with Michael Gove, Ms May’s environment secretary and a Tory leadership hopeful, he denied knowing him during the press conference.
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Trump supporter hit with milkshake during angry scenes in London
The IndependentVideo shows moment man surrounded by crowds chanting 'Nazi scum' is hit in the face by drink"A woman … punctured the mini Trump baby replica with a sharp object,” said a spokesman for the Trump Baby UK group.
Trump baby blimp 'stabbed with sharp object' by pro-Trump supporter
The Independent‘It’s not surprising the far right would want to meet freedom of expression with violence,’ says organiser"Trump is a racist [and] a xenophobe," Mr Bray said, equating Mr Trump to a fascist.
"He’s not good for the world. His visit sends a message that we accept this type of person," he added.
"He is trying to endorse a no-deal Brexit, but he has no idea what that would entail... His endorsement makes it so much less likely that it will actually happen."
Elspeth Williams, 52, is from Catalonia in Spain.
"Inviting Trump to the UK smacks of desperation [over] what they hope to make the UK without the EU," she said.
When asked about Mr Trump's comments that a no-deal Brexit was preferable if Britain could not get better terms Ms Williams said: "He has no business commenting on our politics."
"Today a British PM insulted our hard working NHS workers on a scale never seen before," said GMB general secretary Rehana Azam said.
"Whilst NHS workers are tirelessly delivering healthcare, politicians are tripping over themselves to put our NHS at the mercy of the American market.
"At a time when GMB is campaigning to revoke section 75 and stop privatisation, President Trump is just waiting to get his hands on our NHS.
"There’s a very real danger Conservatives will just hand it over to him in a trade deal."
"You're a figment of the fake news media and according to Donald the British are greeting him warmly on the streets of London right now, so he has invited us to work with him as the twin pillars of the new modern civilisation."
"I want to be a counterbalance to these Trump haters. He is making America great again, and the world great again too," Mr Schunke says.
"These protesters are just middle-class snowflakes, half of them don’t know what they are protesting against - they’re here for a day out.
I have been ripping up banners and putting leaflets in the bin."
What Theresa May said: For the past two and a half years, the president and I have had the duty and privilege of being the latest guardians of this precious and profound friendship between our countries.
What she meant: We are all “here today, gone tomorrow” politicians, and that includes you, Donald. I’m not saying I’ll be pleased if you turn out to be a one-term president.
Read more hereRead more here.
Mr Hunt, another Tory leadership contender, was in the front row for the Trump-Theresa May press conference. Indeed, Mr Trump asked him how Michael Gove would do as Conservative leader.
"Jeremy Corbyn proposed a meeting with Donald Trump during the president’s visit. Jeremy is ready to engage with the president on a range of issues, including the climate emergency, threats to peace and the refugee crisis," they say.
Stan says that the "Another nasty woman against Trump" pin has been his bestseller today.
Anti-Trump demonstrators are shouting "fascist scum off our streets".
Mr Trump said he was "confident" of securing a agreement with London on the matter, with his administration seeing Huawei as a security threat.
That is a big win for Ms May, with the row threatening to do damage to relations with Washington.
