Donald Trump warns Boris Johnson his Brexit agreement means he ‘can’t do’ trade deal with US
3 min read
Donald Trump has warned Boris Johnson his Brexit agreement could prevent the UK striking a free trade deal with America.
In a major blow for the Prime Minister, the US president said he was concerned about "certain aspects" of the accord struck with Brussels earlier this month.
Speaking to Nigel Farage on LBC, he also suggested that the Conservatives should agree an election pact with the Brexit Party.
And he mounted an outspoken attack on Jeremy Corbyn, who he said would be "so bad for your country" if he became PM.
Mr Johnson defied expectations two weeks ago by securing a new Brexit agreement after successfully removing the Irish backstop from the deal struck by his predecessor, Theresa May.
Giving his first assessment of the deal, President Trump said: "He’s in a very difficult position, and I think he’s doing what nobody else was willing to do.
“I also think he’s looking at the United States because we can do much more on trade.”
He added: “We want to do trade with UK, and they want to do trade with us.
“And to be honest with you under certain aspects of this deal, you can’t do it, you can’t trade.”
The president went on: “We can’t make a trade deal with the UK.
“I think we can do many times the numbers that we’re doing right now, and certainly much bigger numbers than you’re doing under the European Union.
“Boris wants to be very careful with that, because under certain ways we’re precluded, which would be ridiculous."
However, President Trump did dismiss Labour claims that American firms would be given access to the NHS under any UK-US trade deal.
He said: “Its not for us to have anything to do with your healthcare system. We’re just talking about trade.
"I don’t even know where that started. I think Corbyn put that out here, it was never even mentioned. I’d never even heard it until I came over."
Brexit Party officials have suggested an election deal with the Conservatives would help to deliver a comfortable Commons majority for Mr Johnson.
Although that has beenn repeatedly ruled out by the PM, the president suggested that any such agreement would have his support.
He told Mr Farage: "I have great relationships with many of the leaders, including Boris who's a fantastic man - I think he's the exact right guy for the times.
"I know that you and him will end up doing something that could be terrific - if you and he get together it's [an] unstoppable force.
"And Corbyn would be so bad for your country, he'd be so bad, he'd take you in such a bad way.
"He'd take you into such bad places. But your country has tremendous potential, it's a great country."
The Brexit Party is expected to give more details of its election strategy on Friday, amid speculation it could stand aside in hundreds of seats to give Tory candidates a better chance of winning.
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