Theresa May's hopes for preferential US trade deal 'delusional'
Theresa May is "delusional" if she believes the UK can get a good trade deal from Donald Trump, a senior German politician has warned
Alex Schaefer, a member of chancellor Angela Merkel's coalition, said the prime minister's hopes the president-elect might look favourably on the UK will come to nothing.
He said the chances of the UK securing a good deal with the US had disappeared with Mr Trump's election to the White House.
Speaking to The Times, Mr Schaefer said: "What changed is the likelihood of a speedy and preferential trade deal between UK and US.
"Even before Tuesday the chances were rather low, now the hope for this kind of deal seems delusional".
Mr Schaefer's comments came in response to optimistic discussions in London over a potential trade agreement.
A new deal will have to be negotiated once Britain begins its departure from the EU.
But Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson urged his European counterparts to end the "whinge-o-rama" over the outcome of the US election.
EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has already warned that Trump's election could endanger the relationship between the bloc and the US.
He said Europe would need to "teach" the billionaire what the continent is and how it works.