Trump, May Vow to Stand for Working People

In the middle of a great imbroglio with Mexico over borders and trade, President Trump hosted his first foreign leader at the White House Friday.

Trump was congratulated on “a stunning election victory” by U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May as the two held a brief news conference in the East Room.

But despite the warm relationship between Trump and May, questions arose about how the two leaders would proceed on such touchy issues as the NATO alliance, trade, regulation, and Russian aggression in the Ukraine.

Trade
May touted trade between the United States and the United Kingdom.

She told the news conference that trade with the United States is worth about $190 billion annually, and that each nation has invested $1 trillion in each other’s economies.

But the two longtime allies do not have a free trade agreement. While British leaders have not explicitly asked for one of late, U.K. leaders are hoping for a better trade deal.

May said such an agreement would be in the national interests of both nations.

“We are discussing how we can establish a trade negotiation agreement, take forward immediate high-level talks, lay the groundwork for U.K.-U.S. trade agreement, and identify the practical steps we can take now in order to enable companies in both countries to trade and do business with one another more easily,” said May.

May said better trade agreements between the United States and the United Kingdom are particularly important after the approval of “Brexit” over the summer. British voters shocked the world when they approved an exit from the European Union.

Torture
A BBC reporter pressed Trump for his “alarming beliefs,” particularly his support for torture, including waterboarding.

Trump said he would defer on the issue to Defense Secretary James Mattis, who has publicly stated he does not prefer to use such methods.

Mexico
Trump was asked by John Roberts of Fox News about his hour-long call earlier in the day.

Trump’s tweets on Thursday, demanding Mexican payment on the border wall, caused Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto to cancel a planned Tuesday meeting to talk trade.

The cancellation caused a stir in Washington, and drew criticism that Trump was not diplomatically approaching the Mexican government on the border wall and the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement.

But Trump said he spoke with Peña Nieto on Friday, and that it was a friendly conversation. The president said he and the Mexican leader agreed to hash out their differences, away from the spotlight.

Personalities
Trump was asked by a member of the British press how Trump and May would get along, as he is a “brash TV extrovert” who changed his positions a lot.

Trump said his position on trade has been consistent throughout the course of decades.

Trump then praised the British decision on Brexit, noting the European Union had evolved into a regulatory state that chipped away at British sovereignty.

May said Trump and she both share a concern for the ordinary working people of their countries.

“They’re working all the hours … They just feel the odds are stacked against them,” said May. “I think we both share [a concern for them].”