When asked about his trip to Britain, where Mr. Trump should be arriving on July 12, he said that people in the UK "like him a lot."
Commenting on the protests marking his visit and set to take place in the British capital, the US president said:
"I do think there will be protests because there are always protests. I believe that the people in the UK, Scotland, Ireland — as you know I have property in Ireland, property all over — I think that those people like me a lot and agree with me on immigration."
#NATOSummit2018 Press Conference in Brussels, Belgium:https://t.co/iEOeGV6YBI
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 12, 2018
He also pointed out that Brexit was caused "in the first place because of immigration" and added he had a strong policy on the issue.
"I am very strong on immigration… You see what's going on in the world with immigration. I probably at least partially won an election because of immigration. If you look at Italy, Giuseppe [Conte] won his election because of strong immigration policies."
UK 'Hotspot'
Mr. Trump told the press conference that Britain is a "hotspot with a lot of resignations." He was referring to senior government ministers quitting over disagreement with the UK PM Theresa May on future trade relations with the EU.
"I don't know what's going on with the negotiation, who knows. But that's become a very interesting point of contention."
'Brexit is Brexit'
Mr. Trump said he had been reading about Brexit over the last couple of days.
"It seems to be turning a little bit differently, where they are getting at least partially involved back with the European Union," he told the reporters.
He then added that it wasn't his place to tell the UK how to deal with Brexit but he would like to see Britain work it out quickly.
"I would say Brexit is Brexit. When you use the term ‘Hard Brexit,' I assume tats what you mean. The people voted to break it up, so I would imagine that's what they'll do but maybe they'll take a bit of a different route. I just want the people to be happy, they are great people."
His reaction was somewhat different to the Brexit-related position voiced by former US President Barack Obama during his visit in April 2016.
Mr. Obama had warned Britain that it could take years for London to negotiate trade agreements with Washington if it dropped out of the European Union.
very different — Obama prior to a referendum, at Cameron behest.. vs comment after.
— BarryJWoods (@BarryJWoods) July 12, 2018
Totally different:
— Mo Cashman (@CashmanMo) July 12, 2018
Obama said "Vote Remain Or We'll Punish Your Country"
Trump said: "It's not for me to say… the people voted to break it up, but they [gov] seem to be doing things a little differently"
Mr. Trump's statements have triggered various reactions of social media users, who watched his press conference:
Hahahahahahaha.
— Fionna O'Leary #FBPE #BrexitBetraysBritain (@fascinatorfun) July 12, 2018
And I’m still laughing at the fact he honestly did say at the NATO summit “I am a really stable genius”.
He has more integrity than the cabinet!
— Neville Pinkney (@nevibabe) July 12, 2018
I wish we could borrow Trump for a few months to negotiate Brexit for us.
— Andrew Parker (@AndrewParker___) July 12, 2018
Starting to see what the US voters saw in Trump!
— Victoria Taylor (@taylorv1225) July 12, 2018
Would Trump qualify for British citizenship through his mum?
— Michel (@Miche1T) July 12, 2018
The US president confirmed he will be visiting his golf course in Turnberry, Scotland, which he called a "magical place."
"I'm going there for two days, while I'm waiting for my Monday meeting. I have great friendships over there, my mother was born in Scotland," Mr. Trump added.
