President Trump praised an “independent” Great Britain Friday in his first news conference and first meeting with a foreign leader, while British Prime Minister Theresa May used the historic session to deliver a plug for NATO.
“Together, America and the United Kingdom are a beacon for prosperity and the rule of law,” Mr. Trump said in the East Room of the White House. “That is why the United States respects the sovereignty of the British people and their right of self-determination. An independent Britain is a blessing to the world.”
British voters decided last year to leave the European Union in a populist move similar to the movement that swept Mr. Trump to victory in November.
The president said the two leaders must be “responsive to the working people.”
“Both America and Britain understand that governments must be responsive to everyday working people, that governments must represent their own citizens,” Mr. Trump said. “Great days lie ahead for our two peoples.”
Ms. May extended an invitation on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II for Mr. Trump to visit the U.K., which he accepted.
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The prime minister also raised the subject of NATO, the alliance that Mr. Trump had raised concerns about during his campaign, when he noted that not all members are paying their designated share for the common defense.
“Mr. President, I think you said, you confirmed that you’re 100 percent behind NATO,” she said after their meeting in the Oval Office. “And I’ve agreed to continue my efforts to encourage my fellow European leaders to deliver on their commitments to spend 2 percent of their GDP on defense so that the burden is more fairly shared. It’s only by investing properly in our defense that we can ensure we’re properly equipped to face our shared challenges together.”
Ms. May said she and Mr. Trump “are united in our recognition of NATO as the bulwark of our collective defense, and today we’ve reaffirmed our unshakable commitment to this alliance.”
She added that they were also discussing “the importance of NATO continuing to ensure it is as equipped to fight terrorism and cyber warfare as it is to fight more conventional forms of war.”
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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