Boris: It’s time to be POSITIVE about President Trump
DONALD Trump’s shock victory in the US presidential election could be a huge opportunity for the UK, Boris Johnson has claimed.
Johnson: We should not prejudge the president-elect
The Foreign Secretary said it is time to be positive about the election result and stop “pre-judging” the former Apprentice host.
Mr Johnson was speaking ahead of a meeting of EU ministers in Brussels this morning, after shunning an “emergency” summit held in the Belgian capital last night.
He said this morning: “I think there’s a lot to be positive about and it’s very important not to pre-judge the president elect or his administration.
“It’s only a few days since the election has taken place. I think we all need to wait and see what they come up with.
Boris Johnson said Donald Trump's victory was an opportunity for the UK
“I think we should regard it as a moment of opportunity. Donald Trump, as I’ve said before, is a deal-maker, and I think he could be a good thing for Britain and he could also be a good thing for Europe.
He drew comparisons between Brexit and Mr Trump’s defeat of Hillary Clinton, both of which he attributed to frustration from people who feel they are going forgotten in Britain and the US.
Boris Johnson said Mr Trump should not be judged before he has had a chance to lead
The former Mayor of London said: “This is a time, as I think the Prime Minister is saying today, when there’s a big change going on in the world.”
People who feel they haven’t been properly listened to, properly represented, are starting to make their voices heard.
“It’s up to us, up to everybody, to listen to them and to take things forward in a positive way.”
Mr Trump turned down an invite to attend a summit in Brussels held last night, along with French and Hungarian officials.
Donald Trump stunned the world with his US election victory
He described Brussels bigwigs of taking part in a “whinge-o-rama” following the Republican US victory.
Despite outgoing president Barack Obama claiming Britain would be at the “back of the queue” when it came to post-Brexit trade deals, Mr Trump assured Nigel Farage yesterday the two countries’ relationship would grow only stronger.
Mr Trump will prioritise UK trade deals after Brexit
Mr Farage, who became the first UK politician to meet the president elect, said unlike President Obama, Mr Trump will push through trade deals with Britain as a priority.
He said: “And it’s not just President-Elect Trump, but his whole team which are Anglophiles.
"They like our country. They recognise what we’ve done together in the past.
"They’re coming into this with a positive view. We need to seize the day."