Washington: United States President Donald Trump has conveyed to British Prime Minister Theresa May in a phone call, that he has no intention of going through with his visit to the United Kingdom, until he gets the necessary support from the English public.
According to the Guardian, Trump was firm that he did not want to visit if it set off large-scale protests, following which his trip is on hold for some time.
According to a Downing Street adviser, May was surprised when he received the phone call from the President with the peculiar statement.
May had invited Trump to Britain seven days after his inauguration, when she became the first foreign leader to visit him in the White House.
The Prime Minister said in a joint press conference that she had extended an invitation from the Queen to Trump and his wife Melania to make a state visit later in the year and was “delighted that the President has accepted that invitation”.
Last week, acting US ambassador to the UK, Lewis Lukens locked horns with Trump by praising London mayor Sadiq Khan, for his strong leadership over the London Bridge and Borough Market terror attacks.
His remarks came after Trump has slammed Khan’s response to the attack, misquoting the mayor’s message to Londoners not to be alarmed by the increased presence of armed police.
Khan’s office pointed out Trump’s error later but the President responded by accusing London’s mayor of making a ‘pathetic excuse’. Khan reportedly then proceeded to call on the UK government to cancel Trump’s invitation.
Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, said on Twitter that Trump’s decision was “welcome, especially after his attack on London’s mayor & withdrawal from #ParisClimateDeal”.
Meanwhile, the White House said in statement: “The President has tremendous respect for Prime Minister May. That subject never came up on the call”.
ANI