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Congratulations to Boris Johnson on becoming new UK PM, he will be great: Trump

Reuters
London, United KingdomUpdated: Jul 23, 2019, 07:07 PM IST
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Boris Johnson and Donald Trump. Photograph:(Reuters)

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Trump has had tense relations with outgoing British Prime Minister Theresa May despite being hosted for a state visit. Ties were further strained this month following leaked messages by the British ambassador to Washington that referred to Trump; the official later quit.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday heralded the selection of Boris Johnson as the new leader of Britain's governing Conservative Party and the United Kingdom's next prime minister, in a possible sign of warmer relations between the two allies.

"Congratulations to Boris Johnson on becoming the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He will be great!" Trump said in a post on Twitter shortly after Johnson's election.

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Trump has had tense relations with outgoing British Prime Minister Theresa May despite being hosted for a state visit. Ties were further strained this month following leaked messages by the British ambassador to Washington that referred to Trump; the official later quit.

The US president has repeatedly praised Johnson, the flamboyant former London mayor and pro-Brexit champion who has been compared to the Republican US president, a former reality television host and real estate developer known for his unconventional, combative approach to politics.

On the other hand, the European Union's Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said on Tuesday the bloc was ready to work with incoming British Prime Minister Boris Johnson for an orderly Brexit.

"We look forward to working constructively with PM Johnson when he takes office, to facilitate the ratification of the withdrawal agreement and achieve an orderly Brexit," Barnier said on Twitter.

"We are ready also to rework the agreed declaration on a new partnership," he said, referring to the political declaration that accompanies the withdrawal agreement.

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PM Theresa May also extended her regards, the tweet read "Many congratulations to @BorisJohnson on being elected leader of @Conservatives - we now need to work together to deliver a Brexit that works for the whole UK and to keep Jeremy Corbyn out of government. You will have my full support from the backbenches."

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