This archive report was first published on 1 November 2019.
Published on November 1, 2019, President Trump's impromptu call to a London-based radio show has ignited a firestorm in Britain's general election, with some speculating that it may inadvertently boost the chances of Nigel Farage's Brexit Party.
During the conversation with Nigel Farage, the leader of the Brexit Party, President Trump lavished praise on Prime Minister Boris Johnson, while disparaging Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn. However, the biggest beneficiary of the president's remarks may have been Mr. Farage himself, who has been relatively quiet during the recent weeks of upheaval in British politics.
Mr. Trump's comments on the meeting between the queen and the American president in June were also noteworthy, with the president stating, 'I don't think she's ever in anything that's bad.'
Meanwhile, the president's remarks on the House of Representatives vote in Washington authorizing an impeachment inquiry were dismissed as 'desperate' by the Democrats.
While President Trump's praise for Prime Minister Johnson came with a caveat, claiming that the agreement Mr. Johnson recently negotiated with the European Union could hamper a future trade agreement between the United States and Britain.
Mr. Trump stated, 'We want to do trade with the U.K. but to be honest with you, this deal, under certain aspects of the deal, you can't do it.' The president's comments have been met with skepticism by trade experts, who argue that the technical provisions known as Geographical Indications pose a significant hurdle to a trade deal.
