Trump ‘polite and well-mannered’ at Blenheim Palace dinner

Donald Trump has been described as being polite and well-mannered at a high-profile dinner hosted by Theresa May and attended by major business leaders.

The lavish event – which took place at Blenheim Palace on Thursday night – was said to have been a relatively muted affair given the controversy surrounding the US president’s UK visit.

“Trump was polite and well-mannered,” a person with knowledge of the events told the Press Association.

They added that the speeches “were long” and “predictable”.

“It was all very cordial.”

“If you didn’t know who he was” you would think Mr Trump was “perfectly pleasant”, the source added.

The dinner was hosted by the Prime Minister and attended by business leaders including Barclays boss Jes Staley and GlaxoSmithKline chief executive Emma Walmsley.

That was in addition to the chief executive of distiller and drinks giant Diageo Ivan Menezes, Goldman Sachs International chief executive Richard Gnodde and EY UK chairman Steve Varley.

Unilever chief Paul Polman and Shell boss Ben van Beurden were also among the invitees.

Around 150 business leaders in total were reportedly invited to the event.

Mrs May was also joined at Blenheim by ministers including Chancellor Philip Hammond, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson, Trade Secretary Liam Fox, Business Secretary Greg Clark, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling and her effective deputy David Lidington.

Speaking at Chequers on Friday, Mr Trump said he and Mrs May had “probably never developed a better relationship” than during the dinner at Blenheim Palace.

He added: “The relationship is very, very strong, we really have a very good relationship.”