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Donald Trump ’s “brutal” Brexit advice to Theresa May was that she should sue the European Union, the prime minister has revealed.
Ms May said the president had told her not to bother negotiating with Brussels, and instead to simply take the entire trade bloc to court.
Many had believed the president advised Ms May to walk away from talks, even after he denied it – but the suggestion that the UK should take legal action against the EU even goes beyond what most Brexiteers would have suspected.
It comes after Mr Trump broke diplomatic protocol by apparently criticising Ms May’s approach to Brexit on the eve of an official visit to the UK, saying in and interview that he had told her to do things differently.
In a bid to then repair relations during a joint press conference on Friday, he apologised for the interview and told reporters he had merely made a “suggestion” to her of what she might do, refusing to say what it was and simply adding that she found it too “brutal”.
Asked to set out exactly what the president’s advice was on BBC’s Andrew Marr Show , Ms May said: “He told me I should sue the EU – sue the EU – not go into negotiations, sue them.
“Actually no. We’re going into negotiations with them.”
Trump and Putin's Helsinki summit: What you need to know At the press conference, Mr Trump had also indicated that if Ms May was unable to secure the deal that she needs from Britain, she might still follow his advice.
But speaking to Marr, the prime minister went on: “Interestingly, what the president also said at that press conference was don’t walk away – don’t walk away from negotiations because then you’re stuck.
“So, I want us to be able to sit down to negotiate the best deal for Britain.”
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UKShow all 105 1 /105National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
EPA
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK Demonstrators on the 'Stop Trump' march through London
PA
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK Protesters in Trafalgar Square
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National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK Demonstrators gather in George Square, Glasgow, for the Scotland United Against Trump protest
PA
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
PA
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
AFP/Getty Images
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn walks through a demonstration against President Trump's visit to the UK on his way to make a speech in Trafalgar Square
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National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
PA
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK Children were among thousands of people around the UK to protest against Donald Trump's visit
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Jessica Morgan
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Jessica Morgan
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Rex Features
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Jessica Morgan
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Jessica Morgan
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK Drag queens take part in the Drag Against Trump protest in Piccadilly Circus
EPA
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Jessica Morgan
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Jessica Morgan
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK Edward Miliband joins the march
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Jessica Morgan
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Jessica Morgan
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
EPA
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Will Gore
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Will Gore
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK A drag queen joins protesters against the UK visit of US President Donald Trump
AFP/Getty Images
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Will Gore
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Will Gore
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Will Gore
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Will Gore
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Will Gore
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK Protesters for the 'Stop Trump'
AP
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
AFP/Getty Images
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
AFP/Getty Images
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
REUTERS
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
PA
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
PA
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
National Stop Trump protest: march against US President's visit to UK
Angela Christofilou
Mr Trump is to round off his first UK visit as president today as he heads for a meeting with Vladimir Putin .
The US president has spent the last two nights at his Turnberry golf resort in Scotland after meeting Theresa May and the Queen in a whirlwind tour that took place amid mass protests against his policies across the UK.
Mr Trump and his wife Melania are due to fly out of Glasgow Prestwick Airport on Sunday headed for Finland where he will meet the Russian leader for talks on Monday.
Before leaving the US for Europe last week, Mr Trump said: “So I have Nato, I have the UK – that’s a situation with turmoil. And I have Putin. Frankly, Putin may be the easiest of all.”
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