Trump Starts his UK Tour by Threatening to Kill off US a Trade Deal

Quartz - Less than 24 hours into his four-day visit to Britain, president Donald Trump has already caused a huge ruckus within the UK government by threatening to kill off a US trade deal with Britain. Considering he chose to spend the first night of his working visit launching a diplomatic grenade, the next three days will undoubtedly prove to be explosive.

Following an interview with Trump in The Sun, members of parliament (MP) from May's Conservative party, as well as those from the opposition Labour, have hit back at the president.

May had originally hoped that during her bilateral meeting with Trump, which is due to take place at her official country residence called Chequers, he would've allowed her to at least tentatively broker a trade deal with the US. It was at the same house only a week ago where May proposed a Brexit plan that would almost certainly see the UK forced to accept EU rules to maintain close trading ties with the bloc.

Although that proposed Brexit deal seems unlikely to go ahead, May's apparent relaxation on immigration is what caused Trump to hit out—both at his NATO summit press conference and then in more detail in the interview with The Sun. Over the last few months, Trump had originally said he was "ready, willing, and able" to do a deal. However, the country's trade war with China, as well as battles with Canada and Mexico, have dominated substantive negotiations by his trade officials. Now he says that May didn't take his advice and has wrecked Brexit because of her decision to opt for a softer approach towards negotiations with the EU.

Meanwhile, UK politicians from all sides have questioned whether he should be blocked from meeting the Queen. He's due to meet her later today at Windsor Castle, the site of...