US President Donald Trump said he apologised to Prime Minister Theresa May today over his bombshell interview with a British tabloid, in which he claimed she had ignored his advice on Brexit and praised former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson's potential as a possible premier.
Trump's comments were condemned by British politicians as it delivered an astonishing political knifing of the already embattled May, comprehensively undermining her fragile position in Britain's tortuous negotiations on leaving the European Union next year.
Addressing a joint press conference at the end of their bilateral talks at the prime minister's country residence, Chequers, Trump said, "She's a total professional."
Trump added that he wished the Sun newspaper put the "tremendous things" he said about May in its headline, but acknowledged, "That's one of those things."
Trump said: "The relationship between our two nations is indispensable to the cause of liberty, justice, and peace."
In the interview with the Sun newspaper, Trump - who has been a long-time supporter of Brexit - said May had not listened to his advice on how to do a Brexit deal, saying: "I would have done it much differently."
Trump also said that former Foreign Secretary Johnson - who disagrees with May on Brexit and resigned this week - would make a "great prime minister", adding: "I think he's got what it takes."