Mr Trump said: “If they do a deal like that, we would be dealing with the European Union instead of dealing with the UK, so it will probably kill the deal.” 
 
 Reuters 22 Donald Trump said Theresa May's new soft Brexit blueprint would 'kill' any future trade deal with the United States 
 
 His comments, damaging to the Prime Minister, come as he delivers his most brutally honest verdict yet on Britain in which he also: 
 
 Mr Trump’s remarks come as he prepares to meet the PM for a working lunch at Chequers. Donald Trump UK visit: in pictures 100 show all Donald Trump UK visit: in pictures 1/100 Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May and US President Donald Trump walk to a joint news conference holding hands Reuters 2/100 People march holding anti-Trump signs in Edinburgh while the US. President is visiting Trump Turnberry Luxury Collection Resort in Scotland Getty 3/100 President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump depart from Glasgow Prestwick Airport REUTERS 4/100 Trump on the back Getty 5/100 President Donald Trump waves whilst playing a round of golf at Trump Turnberry Luxury Collection Resort Getty Images 6/100 Donut TrumpScotland United Against Trump demonstrators gather at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh PA 7/100 Donald Trump plays a round of golf at Trump Turnberry Getty Images 8/100 People march holding anti-Trump signs Getty 9/100 PA 10/100 Trump waves form golf course Getty 11/100 Getty Images 12/100 Trump goes for a stroll Getty 13/100 Trump blimpA giant balloon depicting US President Donald Trump as an orange baby is launched as protesters gather in the Meadows, after taking part in the Scotland United Against Trump march through the streets of Edinburgh AFP/Getty 14/100 U.S. President Donald Trump drives his golf buggy REUTERS 15/100 A Greenpeace protester flying a microlight passes over Donald Trump's resort in Turnberry PA 16/100 President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump look at the media during their arrival on Air Force One at Glasgow Prestwick Airport in Scotland AP 17/100 Scotland United Against Trump demonstrators gather at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh PA 18/100 Security and police teams surround the perimeter of Trmup's golf course Getty 19/100 Scotland United Against Trump demonstrators PA 20/100 Teams of police officers patrol the beach outside near Trump Turnberry Luxury Collection Resort Getty 21/100 Pro-Trump supporters demonstrate outside the US Embassy in support of President Donald Trump's visit to the UK, in London EPA 22/100 Scottish Labour leader, Richard Leonard speaks to crowd PA 23/100 Ex-pat AFP/Getty 24/100 Demonstrators hold placards near the golf resort owned by US President REUTERS 25/100 Protesters wear orange face makeup Getty 26/100 Pro-Trump supporters demonstrate outside the US Embassy in London EPA 27/100 Trump protestors on the beach near to the Trump Turnberry resort PA 28/100 Protestors against the UK visit of US President Donald Trump near Aberdeen AFP/Getty 29/100 A mounted police officer patrols anti-Trump rally Getty 30/100 Trump supporter Bill McGibbon outside his cottage near to the Trump Turnberry resort in South Ayrshire PA 31/100 AFP/Getty Images 32/100 Queen Elizabeth II and President Donald Trump inspect an honour guard at Windsor Castle Getty Images 33/100 PA 34/100 Queen Elizabeth II stands with US President Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, during their visit to Windsor Castle PA 35/100 Donald Trump walks ahead of Queen Elizabeth AP 36/100 Getty Images 37/100 Donald and Melania Trump listen to the Coldstream Guards, play the US national anthem next to the Queen REUTERS 38/100 Protesters in Windor Getty Images 39/100 US President Donald Trump and first lady Melanie Trump are greeted by Queen Elizabeth II, during an arrival ceremony with the Guard of Honour at Windsor AP 40/100 Queen Elizabeth II waits to greet US President Donald Trump as he arrives by helicopter AFP/Getty 41/100 Ed Miliband joins the march Angela Christofilou 42/100 PM and President Getty 43/100 Protestors hold banners AP 44/100 UK meets US AFP/Getty 45/100 Protests at Trump visit Angela Christofilou 46/100 Trump and May Getty 47/100 Protests at Trump visit Will Gore 48/100 Protesters for the 'Stop Trump' Women's March gather in London AP 49/100 US President Donald Trump and Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May hold a joint press conference AFP/Getty 50/100 Donald Trump and Theresa May attend a press conference AFP/Getty 51/100 Demonstrators protest against the visit of U.S. President Donald Trump REUTERS 52/100 Prime Minister Theresa May walks with US President Donald Trump at Chequers Getty 53/100 Donald Trump UK protest Angela Christofilou 54/100 First Lady, Melania Trump, tries her hand at bowls Getty 55/100 US President and British Prime Minister at Chequers Reuters 56/100 Demonstrator in Black Lives matter T-shirt Angela Christofilou 57/100 Theresa May and Donald Trump enter Chequers REUTERS 58/100 Protestors wearing Donald Trump and Theresa May paper mache heads join the protest in Butler's Cross PA 59/100 First Lady, Melania Trump, looks on as Philip May tries bowls Getty Images 60/100 American Psycho poster Angela Christofilou 61/100 First Lady, Melania Trump, reacts as she tries her hand at bowls Getty 62/100 Donald Trump protest in London Angela Christofilou 63/100 Theresa May, Donald Trump with US ambassador to the United Kingdom Woody Johnson and British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt at the start of the bilateral meeting at Chequers EPA 64/100 Melania Trump and Philip May wave flags REUTERS 65/100 Donald Trump is greeted by Theresa May AP 66/100 The US First Lady Melania Trump, helps children to make poppies PA 67/100 The handshake between Donald Trump and Theresa May AP 68/100 Demonstrators raise a six meter high effigy of Donald Trump Getty 69/100 Donald Trump stands alongside Theresa May after he arrived for talks at Chequers, her country residence in Buckinghamshire PA 70/100 A six-meter high cartoon baby blimp of Donald Trump hovers next to the statue of former Prime Minister Winston Churchill AP 71/100 First Lady, Melania Trump, accompanied by Philip May, meets schoolchildren and British Army veterans Getty 72/100 A lookalike of former British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson stands next to a person in a cage wearing a money suit and a mask of Donald Trump AP 73/100 Donald Trump gestures as he prepares to board Marine One to depart the US ambassador's residence Winfield House AFP/Getty 74/100 Demonstrators stand in front of a blimp portraying US. President Donald Trump, in Parliament Square REUTERS 75/100 The Prime Minister hosts President Trump and First Lady Melania at a black tie dinner with business leaders at Blenheim Palace AFP/Getty 76/100 The Prime Minister, accompanied by husband Philip, arrive with President Trump and First Lady Melania to a black tie dinner with business leaders at Blenheim Palace AP 77/100 The Prime Minister and President Trump are seen holding hands, not for the first time EPA 78/100 President Donald Trump pumps his fist during his arrival, with first lady Melania Trump, in Regent's Park AP 79/100 Demonstrators bang pots and pans as they gather at the US ambassador residence in Regent's Park PA 80/100 US President Donald Trump and US First Lady Melania Trump walk in the grounds of the US ambassador's residence Winfield House AFP/Getty 81/100 A demonstrator protests next to the specially erected fence surrounding the US ambassador's residence REUTERS 82/100 A motorcade arrives at Winfield House in London, the residence of American Ambassador to the to the Court of St James's PA 83/100 A presidential helicopter lands in the grounds of the US ambassador residence in Regent's Park PA 84/100 Protesters chant and wave placards during a demonstration outside Winfield House Getty 85/100 he Marine One helicopter carrying US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump flies past the BT Tower Getty 86/100 Protesters chant and wave placards during a demonstration outside Winfield House Getty 87/100 US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump disembark from Air Force One after arriving in the UK Reuters 88/100 US First Lady Melania Trump and US President Donald Trump are greeted by US Ambassador to the United Kingdom Woody Johnson AFP 89/100 US President Trump and Melania Trump leaving Stansted Airport PA 90/100 An honour guard stands to receive US President Donald Trump and US First Lady Melania Trump AFP/Getty 91/100 Donald and Melania Getty 92/100 US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump greet Secretary of State for International Trade Liam Fox on their arrival Getty 93/100 US Marine Corps Osprey aircraft taking off PA 94/100 Us President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump disembark from Air Force One AP 95/100 US President Trump and Melania Trump arrive at Stansted PA 96/100 A giant 'Human Rights Nightmare' banner is unfurled by Amnesty International activists across the river Thames on Vauxhall Bridge to protest against the visit of US President Donald Trump AP 97/100 US President Donald Trump waves as he arrives in the UK PA 98/100 An armed police officier waits on the tarmac at Stansted Airport AFP/Getty 99/100 US President Donald Trump and Melania Trump arrive at Stansted Airport PA 100/100 Armed police await the arrival of US President Donald Trump at Stansted Airport REUTERS 1/100 Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May and US President Donald Trump walk to a joint news conference holding hands Reuters 2/100 People march holding anti-Trump signs in Edinburgh while the US. President Donald Trump, in Parliament Square REUTERS 75/100 The Prime Minister hosts President Trump and First Lady Melania at a black tie dinner with business leaders at Blenheim Palace AFP/Getty 76/100 The Prime Minister, accompanied by husband Philip, arrive with President Trump and First Lady Melania to a black tie dinner with business leaders at Blenheim Palace AP 77/100 The Prime Minister and President Trump are seen holding hands, not for the first time EPA 78/100 President Donald Trump pumps his fist during his arrival, with first lady Melania Trump, in Regent's Park AP 79/100 Demonstrators bang pots and pans as they gather at the US ambassador residence in Regent's Park PA 80/100 US President Donald Trump and US First Lady Melania Trump walk in the grounds of the US ambassador's residence Winfield House AFP/Getty 81/100 A demonstrator protests next to the specially erected fence surrounding the US ambassador's residence REUTERS 82/100 A motorcade arrives at Winfield House in London, the residence of American Ambassador to the to the Court of St James's PA 83/100 A presidential helicopter lands in the grounds of the US ambassador residence in Regent's Park PA 84/100 Protesters chant and wave placards during a demonstration outside Winfield House Getty 85/100 he Marine One helicopter carrying US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump flies past the BT Tower Getty 86/100 Protesters chant and wave placards during a demonstration outside Winfield House Getty 87/100 US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump disembark from Air Force One after arriving in the UK Reuters 88/100 US First Lady Melania Trump and US President Donald Trump are greeted by US Ambassador to the United Kingdom Woody Johnson AFP 89/100 US President Trump and Melania Trump leaving Stansted Airport PA 90/100 An honour guard stands to receive US President Donald Trump and US First Lady Melania Trump AFP/Getty 91/100 Donald and Melania Getty 92/100 US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump greet Secretary of State for International Trade Liam Fox on their arrival Getty 93/100 US Marine Corps Osprey aircraft taking off PA 94/100 Us President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump disembark from Air Force One AP 95/100 US President Trump and Melania Trump arrive at Stansted PA 96/100 A giant 'Human Rights Nightmare' banner is unfurled by Amnesty International activists across the river Thames on Vauxhall Bridge to protest against the visit of US President Donald Trump AP 97/100 US President Donald Trump waves as he arrives in the UK PA 98/100 An armed police officier waits on the tarmac at Stansted Airport AFP/Getty 99/100 US President Donald Trump and Melania Trump arrive at Stansted Airport PA 100/100 Armed police await the arrival of US President Donald Trump at Stansted Airport REUTERS 
 
 Frustratingly, Mr Trump refused to reveal his “suggestion”, but denied it was to collapse the talks if necessary, saying: “You can’t walk away because, if she walks away, that means she’s stuck.” 
 
 Bizarrely, he also claimed he had visited Britain the day before the 2016 referendum and correctly predicted the Leave vote – even though he arrived a day later. “No, if they do that I would say that that would probably end a major trade relationship with the United States.” 
 
 President Donald Trump and Melania Trump depart for dinner with PM Theresa May at Blenheim Palace 
 
 Questioned on Boris’s comments at a private dinner two weeks ago that Mr Trump “would go in bloody hard” if he was negotiating Brexit, the President swiftly replied: “He is right.” 
 
 He added: “I would have done it much differently. You go through certain areas that didn’t exist ten or 15 years ago.” 
 
 Mr Trump made tackling illegal US immigration one of the planks of his 2016 election campaign. “You know, deals that take too long are never good ones. “If they go in a slightly different route - and I know they do want independence, it's going to be independence, it's just your definition - if they are going to go in a certain route I just said that I hope you are going to be able to trade with the United States.
– A "deepening political crisis and diplomatic embarrassment" is how the New York Times frames what British Prime Minister Theresa May was left to deal with Thursday after a scathing Sun interview with President Trump in which he faulted May's handling of Brexit and noted she may have "killed" chances of a free-trade deal with the US. But at a Friday press conference at May's Chequers estate, Trump did a 180, saying US-UK ties were at "the highest level of special" and praising May as an "incredible woman … doing a fantastic job." He also said whatever the UK chooses to do after it ditches the EU is "OK with me, that's their decision." May, for her part, added that the US was "keen" to forge a trade deal with the UK and that her nation would also forge similar deals with "others around the rest of the world," per the BBC. Trump didn't pass up the opportunity to slam the Sun for "fake news," addressing his criticism of May in that article by saying, "I didn't criticize the prime minister" and lamenting that the Sun neglected to include his praise for May in its "generally fine" story. He said he apologized to May for how the interview came off, to which he said May replied, "Don't worry, it's only the press," the Independent notes. Trump also touched on immigration, saying it's been "very bad for Europe" and is "changing the culture" there, and noted that at his upcoming summit with Vladimir Putin he planned to ask once more about meddling in the 2016 US election. "I will absolutely, firmly ask the question," he said, per Fortune, though he doesn't anticipate a "gotcha" moment with Putin. "There won't be a Perry Mason here, I don't think, but you never know what happens, right?" Watch the press conference here.