"Whatever you do is OK with us, just make sure we can trade together, that's all that matters".
Yet supporters of Brexit see a USA trade deal as a central plank of their strategy: Vote Leave, the campaign to leave the European Union, said post-Brexit trade deals centering on the United States could create 284,000 jobs.
In his interview with The Sun, Trump reiterated his frustration with past U.S. administrations, saying they failed to act to rectify the disparity in financial commitment between the United States and its North Atlantic Treaty Organisation partners.
"So if they go in a slightly different route [on Brexit] - and I know they do want independence. 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".
MARTIN: Theresa May - excuse me - Theresa May said that she supports Donald Trump's upcoming visit. "We have a proud history of welcoming people who want to come to our country to contribute to our economy and contribute to our society". "And unfortunately there was a story that was done, which was generally fine, but it didn't put in what I said about the prime minister, and I said tremendous things".
Trump has claimed to have recorded disputed exchanges in the past without providing evidence.
Trump added that May had failed to take his advice on negotiating Brexit with the European Union (EU), and praised the former British foreign secretary Boris Johnson, who had resigned from his post four days earlier in protest at May's Brexit policy. "It is not the first time Trump has immediately contradicted something he has said, or said something nonsensical, or used made up or misleading or unverifiable numbers".
But standing alongside Mrs May after the meeting at her country residence, Mr Trump praised her as an "incredible woman" and a "very tough negotiator" who was "doing a fantastic job", and said there could be a "great" trade deal between the U.S. and UK.
Trump also lamented immigration in Europe during his news conference, saying "it has been very bad for Europe".
He added: "I didn't think they put it in, but that's all right".
In the interview, which took place at the U.S. Embassy in Brussels, the president also lashed out at the Muslim mayor of London, saying he had done "a awful job".
She maintained the government's Brexit agreement, which has come under fire from supporters of a "hard Brext" "delivers" on the referendum vote. I think she's a very tough negotiator", he said of May, going on to call her a "very, very smart and determined person ...
"The prime minister has a good relationship with the president".
Critics slammed Trump for a string of diplomatic blunders and said he wasn't fit to sit there.
Mrs. Trump and the president were reuniting later Friday for a return trip into the country for a social visit and tea with Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle.
"(Queen Elizabeth has) a great and attractive grace about her. 'I think we should be standing up against him, I think Theresa May should be standing up against him.
The Trumps entered the castle's Quadrangle by Range Rover after arriving on the castle grounds by helicopter.
Trump said he plans to raise a range of topics in his summit Monday with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, including nuclear proliferation, which Trump said he considers the largest problem facing the world.
"I don't think you'll have any 'Gee, I did it". "I think he has done a bad job on crime, if you look, all of the disgusting things going on there, with all of the crime that is being brought in".
Ms. May also tried to right the ship, pointing out repeatedly that Mr. Trump now agreed with her that a trade deal with the USA will be possible under her strategy.