Five things we have learned from Donald Trump’s visit

US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Theresa May took part in an eventful press conference at Chequers on Friday (Jack Taylor/PA) Credit: PA Wire/PA Images

Here are some of the things we have learned during Mr Trump’s first working visit to the United Kingdom as US president:

  • We can do a trade deal with the US after Brexit

Mr Trump told The Sun that Theresa May’s plan to keep the UK aligned closely to the EU over goods could "kill" a transatlantic trade deal.

It prompted Downing Street to suggest Mr Trump had not read Thursday’s White Paper and the Prime Minister would have a change at Chequers to bring him “up to speed”.

But at Chequers the president toned down the rhetoric, saying that “whatever you do is OK with me”.

He added: "The only thing I ask of Theresa is that we make sure we can trade and we don’t have any restrictions because we want to trade with the UK and the UK wants to trade with us."

Donald Trump walks with Theresa May prior to a joint press conference at Chequers, her country residence in Buckinghamshire Credit: Stefan Rousseau/PA
  • Fake news is fake news, except when it is not

Mr Trump described The Sun interview as “generally fine” but denied criticising Mrs May and accused it of leaving out some of his “tremendous” praise for her.

He said “we record when we deal with reporters, it’s called fake news”, but changed his mind when The Sun reporter pointed out it had in fact printed his positive remarks.

But others faced the fake news flak, including CNN and NBC reporters. The CNN reporter was told: “CNN is fake news, I don’t take questions from fake news. Let’s take a question from a real network.”

  • Trump is a fan of Theresa May and Britain

Mr Trump said the UK/US relationship was the “highest level of special” and both made much of our mutual trading levels. He pointed out yet again that his mother was Scottish.

Mr Trump was also full of praise for the Prime Minister, saying: “She’s a very tough negotiator. I have been watching her over the last couple of days.

“She’s a tough negotiator, she’s a very, very smart and determined person.

“I can tell you there are a lot of people that are looking up now that are saying ‘Gee whiz, she left a lot of people in her wake’.

“She’s a very smart, very tough, very capable person and I would much rather have her as my friend than my enemy, that I can tell you.”

Trump said the relationship between the UK and US was 'highest level of special' Credit: Jack Taylor/PA
  • He is also a fan of Boris Johnson

As he stood next to Mrs May on the Chequers lawn, Mr Trump said the former foreign secretary Boris Johnson would make a "great prime minister".

This was apparently based on the fact that Mr Johnson had been “nice” to him”.

It came after Mr Trump has suggested earlier in the week the two could meet in London.

Mr Trump said former foreign secretary Boris Johnson would make a great prime minister Credit: PA

Mr Trump told reporters that Mr Johnson had "been very nice to me".

"He’s been saying very good things about me as president," he said.

"I think he thinks I’m doing a great job. I am doing a great job, I can tell you, just in case you haven’t noticed.

"Boris Johnson, I think, would be a great prime minister."

  • Holding hands with Theresa May is fine. But not the Queen

Mr Trump famously took Theresa May’s hand when she visited the White House in 2017.

On his UK visit he did it again, as they went into Blenheim Palace for dinner on Thursday and twice on Friday as they went up and down the steps leading into the Chequers garden where they spoke to the press.

Donald Trump and the Queen inspect a Guard of Honour, formed of the Coldstream Guards, at Windsor Castle, Windsor Credit: Matt Dunham/PA

Later on, when the Trumps arrived at Windsor Castle to meet the Queen, it was different.

The monarch carried her handbag on the arm nearest Mr Trump as they went to inspect soldiers of the Coldstream Guards on ceremonial duty.