Donald Trump has landed in Britain for his historic first official visit – and declared that the people of the UK “like me a lot”.
The President arrived at Stansted Airport near London on Air Force One at 2 pm, accompanied by his wife Melania and a huge entourage.
The couple were met by US ambassador Woody Johnson, the Trade Secretary Liam Fox and a military guard, before being whisked away on a helicopter which was waiting on the Tarmac.
Their first stop is the ambassador’s official residence in London, Winfield House, which has been surrounded by an ultra-secure ring of steel to keep out protesters.
They will then go to Blenheim Palace for dinner with Theresa May and a group of top business leaders.
Those invited will dine on Scottish salmon then beef, followed by strawberries and clotted cream ice cream.
The trip is not a full-blown state visit – but it will see the President meet the Queen for the first time and feature a tour of historic homes around the UK.
Mr Trump has dismissed the possibility of having his trip seriously disrupted by leftie activists – insisting he’s actually very popular in Britain.
Asked if he was worried about the protests, he replied: “I think it’s fine. I think they like me a lot in the UK.
“I think they agree with me on immigration. I am very strong on immigration.”
This morning, Mr Trump spoke out against Mrs May’s Brexit plan which she crafted at Chequers – saying, “I don’t know if that’s what they voted for”.
Speaking at a Nato summit in Brussels before he jumped on his official plane, he made it clear he doesn’t approve of Mrs May’s “soft Brexit” compromise.
Mr Trump told a press conference: “Well Brexit is, I’ve been reading a lot about Brexit over the last couple of days.
“And it seems to be turning a little bit differently, where they’re getting at least partially involved back with the European Union.”
A journalist then asked if he was backing a “hard Brexit”, but the president misheard – thinking he had asked if it was “heart-breaking”, he replied: “That might be going a little too far!”
Picking it up the theme he mused: “Is it heart-breaking? A lot of things are heart-breaking, no what I would say is that ‘Brexit is Brexit’.
“You know when you use the term ‘hard Brexit’ that’s what I assume that you mean.
“The people voted to break it up so I would imagine that what they’ll do, but maybe they’re taking a little bit of a different route.
“So, I don’t know if that’s what they voted for.”
He added: “I just want the people to be happy, they’re great people.”
Mr Trump’s comments came as the UK Government prepared to publish a long-awaited white paper laying out its negotiating position in upcoming talks with Brussels.
The paper will flesh out Mrs May’s proposals agreed by the Cabinet at her country home of Chequers last week, which would see the UK keep existing European rules on goods, as well as creating a tariff-free customs zone between Britain and the EU.
The plans were intended to unite the Tories – but instead they led to the resignation of senior ministers Boris Johnson and David Davis.
The PM now faces a mass rebellion from her own MPs, with Brexit backers furious at what they see as a sellout of her previous promises.
Mr Trump’s press conference followed a Nato summit where he declared victory in his mission to persuade European leaders they need to spend more cash on defence.
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The President said the US could leave the alliance if other countries’ don’t live up to their commitments to spend at least 2 per cent of GDP on the military.
Among the demonstrations being planned for his visit is a giant blimp showing Mr Trump as a baby, which was controversially approved by London Mayor Sadiq Khan.
The President’s first formal stop on his trip to Britain is Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, the birthplace of Winston Churchill.
Mr Trump is having dinner with the PM and dozens of business leaders, before heading to London to spend the night at Winfield House.
Tomorrow he and Mrs May will visit the Sandhurst military academy and hold talks at her country home, Chequers.
He will then have tea with the Queen at Windsor Castle, before heading to Scotland where he’ll spend the weekend at his Turnberry golf course in Ayrshire.
