Donald Trump says US will have ‘nothing to do with NHS’ as he backs Boris Johnson
3 min read
Donald Trump has insisted the United States will have "absolutely nothing to do with" the NHS after Brexit as he appeared to back Boris Johnson to stay on as Prime Minister.
The President sought to dispel claims by Jeremy Corbyn that the health service would be “on the table” in any future trade deal between America and the UK.
He said even if it was handed over on a “silver platter” his country would not want to get involved, saying Britain has to “work it out for themselves”.
Labour leader Mr Corbyn wrote to Mr Trump as he arrived in the UK for a Nato summit demanding the NHS "will truly be taken off the table" in a post-Brexit trade deal with the US.
He called on America to revise its negotiating objectives, ditch any reference to pharmaceuticals and drop a demand for "total market access" to British public services.
Asked at a press conference in London on on Tuesday morning whether the NHS would be up for negotiation in the trade talks, the President said: "No, not at all. I have nothing to do with it. Never even thought about it."
Mr Trump went on to praise the US private healthcare system, before adding: “But in this country no, they have to work it out for themselves.”
He added: “I don’t even know where that rumour started.
“We have absolutely nothing to do with it, and we wouldn’t want to if you handed it to us on silver platter.
“We want nothing to do with it.”
His comments will be welcomed by the Conservatives, who have repeatedly insisted that the NHS will not be included in the US trade negotiations.
President Trump also insisted that he would "stay out of the election" while he is in the UK, although he did give Mr Johnson his support.
He said: “I think Boris is very capable and I think he'll do a good job."
Asked if he could work with Jeremy Corbyn if Labour wins the election, the President said: "I can work with anyone."
The comments on the NHS are in marked contrast to what he said during a state visit to the UK earlier this year, when he said: said: “I think everything with the trade deal is on the table.
"When you’re dealing in trade everything’s on the table, so NHS or anything else or a lot more than that but everything will be on the table, absolutely."
Meanwhile the President said talks were ongoing about the case of Harry Dunn, the British teenager killed when his motorcycle was hit by a car driven by American national Anne Sacoolas in the summer.
Ms Sacoolas flew back to the US before the investigation was completed, leading to a diplomatic row between the two countries.
Mr Trump said he had met Mr Dunn’s parents at the White House, calling them “lovely people”, and added: “We’re trying to work something out.”
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