U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to make a visit to the United Kingdom later this year, the British and American governments said on Thursday after months of speculation about the president’s planned visit.
Trump and May met in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday while attending the World Economic Forum. They discussed a range of issues, including Iran, the fight against the Islamic State group (ISIS), and Britain’s exit from the European Union.
“The two leaders reiterated their desire for a strong trading relationship post-Brexit, which would be in the interests of both countries,” Downing Street, where the prime minister’s official residence is located, said in a statement.
“The PM and President concluded by asking officials to work together on finalizing the details of a visit by the President to the UK later this year,” the statement added, without clarifying whether it will be a formal state visit that is hosted by Queen Elizabeth II.
In a separate statement, the White House said the two leaders had discussed plans for a “working visit” to London in the coming months. “[They] affirmed the ‘special relationship’ between the two countries is stronger than ever,” the White House said.
May announced in January 2017 that Trump had accepted an invitation from Queen Elizabeth II for a state visit later that year, but the plans were repeatedly delayed amid growing opposition in the United Kingdom and fears that the visit could trigger massive protests.
Trump was also expected to visit the United Kingdom in February for the opening of the new U.S. Embassy in London, but the president announced in a tweet earlier this month that he had canceled the plans.
In a late-night tweet, Trump blamed the administration of former President Barack Obama for having sold the previous embassy building for “peanuts,” even though the decision to move the embassy was made in 2008 during the administration of Obama’s predecessor, George W. Bush.
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