Trump says Britain must get Brexit 'carve out' for US trade deal

Britain must ensure it is free to cut a trade deal with the US in its Brexit agreement with the EU, President Donald Trump said in an interview today.

Trump said he had told British Prime Minister Theresa May that London must get a "carve out" in whatever arrangement is struck with Brussels, so that a "great trade deal" could be struck.

May is facing a rebellion by Brexit hardliners against her proposals to retain strong trading ties with the European Union even after Britain leaves the bloc.

Trump, who is spending the last day of a four-day visit to Britain at his luxury Turnberry golf resort in southwest Scotland ahead of a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki on Sunday, also revealed details of his meeting with Queen Elizabeth II, saying she thought Brexit was a "very complex problem".

In an interview with the Daily Mail newspaper, Trump said Britain and the United States should be able to strike a "great trade deal" -- if the final Brexit agreement leaves London free to do so.

"We would make a great deal with the United Kingdom because they have product that we like," Trump said.

"I said (to May): 'Make sure you have a carve out, you have to have a carve out' -- where no matter what happens they have the right to make a deal with the United States.

"You can't be shut out because we're much bigger than the European Union, we're more important from that standpoint."
Trump earlier tweeted: "I have arrived in Scotland and will be at Trump Turnberry for two days of meetings, calls and hopefully, some golf -- my primary form of exercise! The weather is beautiful, and this place is incredible!"