Donald Trump 'looking forward' to meeting Boris for the first time as PM this weekend – as Democrats warn they could block bumper trade deal
DONALD Trump is “looking forward” to meeting Boris Johnson for the first time since he became Prime Minister as the pair plan a bonanza trade deal.
The US President gushed about a “great discussion” with the PM as they thrashed out a bright post Brexit future for the Special Relationship.
However, Democrats have warned they could block any trade deal if it puts the Good Friday Agreement at risk by introducing a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic.
Trump tweeted last night: “Great discussion with Prime Minister Boris Johnson today.
“We talked about Brexit and how we can move rapidly on a US-UK free trade deal. I look forward to meeting with Boris this weekend, at the G7 in France.”
SENATE WARNING
The meeting comes as US Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer wrote to US secretary of state Mike Pompeo warning that Congress could work on a cross-party basis to block a deal.
Schumer called for the Trump administration to stop "over-promising an unconditional and unrealistic" post-Brexit trade agreement with the UK.
The letter was also sent to Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab.
Yesterday Boris said he is “confident” the EU will compromise on the hated Northern Irish backstop and give us a deal.
He told Sky News: "We will be ready to come out on Oct. 31 – deal or no deal.
“Of course, our friends and partners on the other side of the Channel are showing a little bit of reluctance to change their position – that's fine – I am confident that they will."
Of course, our friends and partners on the other side of the Channel are showing a little bit of reluctance to change their position – that's fine – I am confident that they will.
"I hope that they will compromise – they have seen that the UK parliament has three times rejected the Withdrawal Agreement, the backstop just doesn't work, it is not democratic. I hope they will see fit to compromise."
Boris spoke with Trump on the phone on Monday night updating the president on Brexit ahead of their meeting at the G7 summit in France at the weekend.
A Downing Street spokesperson said:“The Prime Minister spoke to President Trump today, ahead of the G7 Summit in Biarritz.
“They discussed economic issues and our trading relationship, and the Prime Minister updated the President on Brexit. The leaders looked forward to seeing each other at the Summit this weekend.”
BO-JO LETTER
The PM also spoke to Irish premier Leo Varadkar for an hour and agreed to meet in Dublin in early September, and also discussed other Brexit-related issues, including the Withdrawal Agreement.
Writing to Tusk, Bo-Jo confirmed he is committed to ensuring there is no return to a hard border on the island of Ireland.
He proposed "flexible and creative solutions to the unique circumstances on the island of Ireland".
He added: "I propose that the backstop should be replaced with a commitment to put in place such arrangements as far as possible before the end of the transition period, as part of the future relationship.
"I also recognise that there will need to be a degree of confidence about what would happen if these arrangements were not all fully in place at the end of that period.
"We are ready to look constructively and flexibly at what commitments might help, consistent of course with the principles set out in this letter."
Mr Johnson acknowledged that "time is very short" but said: "The UK is ready to move quickly, and, given the degree of common ground already, I hope that the EU will be ready to do likewise."
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