LONDON - A trade deal between the US and UK "will absolutely be possible", Donald Trump has said, hours after he told the Sun newspaper that UK Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit plan could kill an agreement.
Speaking alongside the PM after talks at her country residence, Chequers, Mr Trump said the US-UK relationship is "the highest level of special".
Mrs May said they had discussed plans for an "ambitious" trade agreement.
Thousands of people are protesting in London against Mr Trump's visit.
A large balloon, portraying the president as a baby, has been floated in Parliament Square as part of the demonstrations. Other protests are taking place across the UK on Friday and Saturday.
The meeting between Mr Trump and Mrs May took place after the news broke that the Sun newspaper had published its wide-ranging interview with the president.
But at the Chequers news conference, Mr Trump praised Mrs May as an "incredible woman" who was "doing a fantastic job" and said there could be a "great" trade deal between the US and UK.
He said: "I read reports where that won't be possible, but I believe after speaking with the prime minister's people and representatives and trade experts it will absolutely be possible".
Mr Trump's first visit official visit to the UK as president is taking place in between the Nato summit and a meeting in Helsinki with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
The president and first lady have travelled to Windsor to meet the Queen, before they fly to Scotland to spend the weekend at Mr Trump's Turnberry golf resort.
At a news conference following the talks, Mr Trump said: "The relationship between our two nations is indispensable to the cause of liberty, justice, and peace."
Brexit was an "incredible opportunity" and "whatever" the UK did after it left the EU was "OK with me"
Mr Trump described Brexit as a "very tough situation... between the borders and the entries into the countries and all of the things", saying: "The only thing I ask is that she work it out so that we can have very even trade."
Mrs May said the US was "keen" to do a deal with the UK, adding: "We will do a trade deal with them and with others around the rest of the world."
She maintained the government's Brexit agreement "delivers" on the referendum vote.
Earlier, Mr Trump said he and Mrs May had spoken for an hour-and-a-half at the black-tie dinner at Blenheim Palace on Thursday, which he attended with his wife Melania.
"I think we probably never developed a better relationship than last night," he said.(FA)
