27/01/2017 World News Today

I'm Laura Trevelyan live in Washington.

Theresa May becomes the first overseas leader to hold face-to-face

Trade was top of the agenda, as well as strengthening the special

relationship between the UK and the US.

A free and independent Britain is a blessing to the world and our

relationship has never been stronger. I am convinced that a

trade deal is in the national interest of both countries and will

cement the crucial relationship that exists between us. We will bring you

more from that news conference and the gut how the relationship might

develop. -- how the relationship might develop.

In the past hour, Theresa May has been giving a news conference

alongside Donald Trump, after she became the first

Mr Trump said the US was renewing what he described as its "deep bond"

It came at the end of the first meeting he has had with any foreign

leader. The agree to strengthen their mutual ties. Theresa May told

reporters that the UK and US had reaffirmed their commitment to Nato

following their meeting, which had focused on trade and security. The

United States respects the sovereignty of self-determination. A

free and independent Britain is a blessing to the world. Our

relationship has never been stronger. Both America and Britain

understand that governments must be responsive to everyday working

people, that governments must represent their own citizens. Madam

Prime Minister, we look forward to working closely with you as we

strengthen our mutual ties and commerce, business and foreign

fears. Great days lie ahead for our two peoples and our two countries.

-- foreign affairs. More from that news conference but firstly our

correspondent is that the White House for us. Theresa May came here

needing a trade deal but she also got a very strong commitment,

doesn't she? Tell us more about that. I think there are in number of

things that were important for her in this press conference. One of

those with the commitment and she spoke to Mr Trump and he said they

were ?100 to 100% behind Nato. That is a very important signal to send

to Britain and members of the European union. That is an

achievement for her. She did say at the also talked about ways to reform

Nato and make it more nimble with dealing with current threats, like

cyber security and terrorism. I think the other thing that was

important for her to get, which she did, was her statement on torture.

It has played very badly over in the UK. He was axed about his support

for torture. It is his belief that it could work. He said it is my

belief but I am going to defer to my secretary of defence. He does not

believe torture is the way to go and he will have the deciding vote on

this. It was a clear statement on an issue that has been quite

contentious in the UK. Also here in many quarters as well. The two

leaders are having a working lunch now in the White House. Theresa May

said they were going to talk about Syria and Russia. What is likely to

come up there? It was interested that Russia was raised, with his

ties with Putin. He said he has not met the man and he does not know

whether they will have a good relationship with him. He left that

open. Also more importantly for Britain, this issue of sanctions.

There are reports you might be lifting sanctions and he said that

as premature. It is too early to say and that is something that would

have reassured Theresa May. Britain's position is that it should

not be lifted. In terms of Russia and Syria, Mr Trump has talked about

being willing to join Russia in fighting Islamic State in Syria and

putting Basha Assad's fit on the back burner. It is possible that Mrs

May may be possible to go some distance with him on that, due to

comments made by her Foreign Secretary recently. Thank you very

much. The first British journalist to ask a question was Laura

Ginsberg. Here's what happened. Laura? Laura Ginsberg, BBC News. You

have talked about where you agree. You have also said you will be frank

where you disagree with the president. Can you tell us where in

your talks you do disagree and do you think the president listened to

what you had to say? Mr President, we will see what she says. Mr

President, you have said before that torture works. You have praised

Russia, you say you want to ban some Muslims coming to America, you have

said they should be punishment for abortion. Many people in Britain,

those sound like alarming beliefs. What do you say to our viewers at

home who are worried about some of your views and worried about you

becoming a leader of the free world? Your choice of the question. There

goes that relationship. I have been listening to the

president and that is the point of having a conversation and a

dialogue. We have been discussing a number of topics and we will carry

on after this press conference meeting and discussing a number of

other topics. There will be times that we disagree, the point of the

special relationship is that we are able to have an open and frank

discussion. So that we are able to make that clear when that happens. I

am clear also that there are many issues that the United Kingdom and

United States stand alongside each other and many issues that we agree

on. I said yesterday in my speech that we are at a moment now that we

can build a stronger and special relationship, that will be in the

interests of the wider world as well. We have a great general, who

has just been appointed secretary of defence, General James and she has

stated publicly that he does not necessarily believe in torture. Or

water boarding, or however you want to define enhanced interrogation,

these are worse lots of people would like to use. I do not necessarily

agree, but I would tell you that he will override because I am giving

him that power. He is an expert, he is highly respected. He got through

the Senate very, very quickly, which in this country is not easy, I will

tell you. I am to rely on him. I believe it does work, I have been

open about that for a long time but I am going with our leaders and we

are going to win with an without, but I do disagree. As far as Putin

and Russia, I do not see good, bad or indifferent. I do not know the

gentleman. I hope we have a fantastic relationship. That is

possible and it is also possible that we will not. We will see what

happens. I will be representing the American people very strongly and

forcefully and if we have a great relationship with Russia and other

countries and if we go after Isis together, which has to be stopped.

That is an evil that has to be stopped. I will consider that a good

thing, not a bad thing. How the relationship works out, I will be

able to tell you that later. I have heard many times when I thought I

was going to get along with people but I do not like them at all. I

have had some were I did not think I was going to have much of a

relationship and it turned out to be a great relationship. To Reza, we

never know about those things, do we? -- Theresa May. I will be

representing the American people very strongly. We can now get

reaction to that joint news conference from our political

correspondent who is in London. Chris, Theresa May had to walk a

tightrope here, making sure she got that trade deal because Britain is

going to leave the EU but not wanting to defer too much to Donald

Trump. How did she do? It was extraordinary to watch that because

you have to be partly a critical correspondent but also the body

language expert and pop psychologist as well as you see the dynamic

between the two leaders, both new in post. Mrs May is the first foreign

leader to step into the White House since President Trump took office.

You could see an element of the awkwardness. They had not met

before. I was really struck early on at how the Prime Minister was

willing explicitly to say that President in their private talks had

given 100% backing to Nato. We have seen the scepticism that he has

articulated towards Nato. He is concerned about what he sees busy on

fair funding burden that Washington has two shoulder for the Atlantic

alliance. We have heard lots of concern here in the UK, not just

from the Conservatives, but from across the House of Commons in the

last couple of days about that outlook from President Trump on

Nato. It was one of the questions that was tucked into the Prime

Minister's pocket just the other day. For her to say that they had

that conversation in private and she has had reassuring words on Nato, I

thought was very, very striking. As you say, she has two strike a tricky

balancing act. She has to be able to make the case that is in the UK's

interest to have a good relationship with the White House, whoever the

occupant of the building has to be. At the same time, politically and

personally, the clearly different characters. They are, indeed. What

impression do you think President Trump made over there in Britain? It

was his very first press conference with a foreign leader. What I

thought was striking in that sense was that you got an element from a

British's viewer perspective of President Trump, as opposed to

candidate Trump. He was more softly spoken, wasn't he? Then you got

flashes of the man that we saw on the campaign trail. Crucially, the

approach that he has struck, that is also different to help so many other

occupants of senior political roles take to operate. At the end of that

exchange, when he was talking about volunteering the difference views

between him and his Defence Secretary over water boarding and

torture and volunteering that as Defence Secretary would have the

final say over the policy. That kind of approach, to publicly volunteered

differences and to save the subordinate may have the final say,

is unconventional. It is something of his prize. I suspect, in terms of

the overall UK reaction, the die-hard critics of Mr Trump will

not have changed his mind watching the press conference. Those who love

him will be reassured that his presidency would be good news the

UK. Maybe some who were open minded and could be persuaded one way or

the other might acknowledge that is another side to President Trump and

those -- from those performances on the campaign stage. Chris Mason in

London, thank you very much. Mr Trump is planning to speak to

Vladimir Putin on the phone on Saturday. His relationship was

brought up and here is what he had to say in that press conference. As

far as Putin and Russia, I do not see good, bad or indifferent. I do

not know the gentleman. I hope we have a fantastic relationship. That

is possible and it is also possible that we will not. We will see what

happens and I will be representing the American people very, very

strongly and very forcefully and if we have a great relationship with

Russia or other countries and if we go after Isis together, which has to

be stopped because it's an evil that has to be stopped, I will consider

that a good thing and not a bad thing. How the relationship works

out, I will not be able to tell you that until later. I have had many

times when I thought I would get along with people and I do not like

them at all. I have had some were I did not think I was going to have

much of a relationship and it turned out to be a great relationship. So

Theresa May, we never know about those things, do we? I will tell you

one thing, I will be representing the American people very strongly.

Donald Trump. Joining me now from London is the Republican commentator

and part of President Trump's transition team. Thank you for

joining us. This was his diplomatic debut. How did you do? I thought he

did very, very well. I was disappointed that the first question

that he was asked that took everything out of context, is going

back to campaign staff. Women being punished for abortion was a

hypothetical question. He changed his position and very much came out

of yesterday that anyone coming from an Arab nation that supports

terrorism. They have accomplished more things on his to do list and

every single day there has been an achievement of one of his promises.

People are in shock about what he has done. Can we stick to what was

said at the press conference? What did you make of Theresa May saying

that the president had told her he was 100% behind Nato? Where you

reassured? People take Trump literally and not seriously and

combine things. I am sure he still feels that it is obsolete because

Donald Rumsfeld said it was obsolete. He is most perturbed that

we carry 80% of the cost and 27 nations to not pay for it. If you

think that has disappeared, the fact of the matter is he selected and has

now been concerned ats confirmed the general who is behind Nato. That is

the other good thing is that he does not need people to agree with

heading. He once the variety... He said, didn't he, in that press

conference that he would be overruled by the general when it

comes to torture. That he thinks that it works but he accepts the

journal does not believe in it. That may be extraordinary but is that the

essence of Donald Trump's are we going to do that all antique pieces

out a look at the whole picture? He has been very, very comfortable with

people disagreeing with him and he has created that. He has not changed

his opinion. What you said is that he would never ask anyone to do

anything illegal. He would defer to the general and in the Wall Street

Journal and article written had said that torture had worked. He says he

believes that but he is not going to force that belief on the people who

are experts. That is one of the key things about him. Let's turn to

Russia, we know that President Trump is going to speak to Vladimir Putin,

someone who he said that if he could have a good relationship with him,

that would be great. Do you think it is too early to be talking about

lifting sanctions on Russia over their behaviour in Ukraine? I do not

know if that is the question of is it too early, what the question is

is what would be the reason? What is the thinking behind it? Is it a

carrot? What is really going on because I will tell you, Donald

Trump does not do anything without having thought it through

strategically and even anticipating what potential reaction could be. It

was interesting to that Theresa May talked about the question of Russia.

She talked about the agreement to which Russia must live up to if

those sanctions are imposed. Donald Trump did not seem so familiar with

the diplomatic language as Theresa May. Is that something that is going

to come in time? I think that for someone who is 18 months ago, two

years ago, was not a politician at all has turned our entire political

system upside down, who took 3084 counties. Hillary only 157. -- 384.

Give him a chance. He is a fast learner and he has been impresseds

impressive at what he has mastered in such a short time. -- impressive.

Thank you for that perspective on President Trump following his first

meeting with a foreign leader. Let's hear more from that press

conference. One of the key items was trade and the economy. Trade between

our two countries is already worth over ?150 billion per year. Together

we have around $1 trillion invested in each other's economies. The

defence relationship is the broadest, deepest and most advanced

of any two countries sharing military hardware and expertise. I

think the president and I are ambitious to build on this

relationship in order to grow our economies and provide the high

skilled, high-paid jobs of the future for working people across

America and across the UK. Theresa May there. Joining me is that Bishop

from the London Chambers of commerce. I am not an economist but

I understand tariffs currently between Britain and the US are

minimal. If there was a trade deal, how much would trade be boosted? You

are right. The rules apply and there is an extra layer on top from

most-favoured-nation. The tariffs are not generally a barrier to trade

and as you just heard, the trade between the US and the UK is

enormous. They are our biggest individual country export market and

we are in the top five of their export markets. Investment is

enormous, too. We are starting from a good place. The trade agreement

usually comes into play because barriers to trade are high and if

you reduce those barriers, trade will grow. There has got to be some

thought put into what the trade negotiations will entail. Peter,

would this not mean if there was a trade agreement that those

politically sensitive areas, which are Government protected, like

defence and health spending, that Britain would have to open up to the

Americans. Like open up the NHS? We have to pick on areas, like Donald

Trump has said he is putting America first. He has got to find something

in it from the USA, the getting a preferential access to us. We have

65 million people, it is never going to be an equal deal. It has to work

for them, too. Do you think then this is much more about the

symbolism of the special relationship between Britain and

America at a time where both political leaders want to show they

can go it alone? I think that is an important part of it. By some levels

of measurement, the USA and the UK are in the top five of the easiest

places to do business in the world. Doing business with each other is,

at the starting point, easy. That is not to say that free trade

agreements can achieve more. Those tariffs are low but not known every

sector, they can be lowered on both sides. You can take away export

licensing, you can take away other licensing regimes. And have the

mutual recognition of standards. All the nontariff barriers things can go

down. I do not want to give the overall impression that the free

trade agreement is a bad thing, but is not the massive boost to trade

that it could be with countries where it is harder to do business.

Thank you so much over there in London. Donald Trump said he had a

friendly call with mixes president -- with the Mexican president. We

had a talk that lasted for an hour this morning and we are going to be

working on a theatre relationship and a new relationship. The United

States cannot continue to lose vast amount of business, companies and

millions and millions of people losing their jobs. That will not

happen with me. We are no longer going to be the country that does

not know what it is doing. We are going to renegotiate our trade deals

and we are going to renegotiate other aspects of our relationship

with Mexico. In the end, I think it will be good for both countries.

Donald Trump talking about Mexico earlier in that press conference.

Joining me now is the BBC's correspondent. You just heard what

Donald Trump said there but earlier today he had a long phone

conversation with the Mexican president after that bust up

yesterday and now the Mexican president is not coming here. What

did you make of his public comments following the bust up yesterday and

the phone call with the Mexican president this morning? During that

press conference, Donald Trump said he was not as brash as you might

think that if you use some of the language he used to describe the

Mexican president. He said he loves the Mexican people but they have

beaten us to a pulp. You saw a bit of the characteristic Donald Trump

that we are used to, rather than the more statement like President Trump

that we saw alongside Theresa May. He is continuing that fight, shall

we say, but he did have a phone conversation with the Mexican

president earlier today and one of the upshot is from that conversation

from the Mexican side, we have heard that both have agreed not to discuss

publicly how they will pay for the wall. He did not mention the war,

did he? Maybe he is coming steeped in the art of diplomacy. Maybe he

has kept as part of the bargain but he said that the US cannot continue

to lose vast amounts of business to Mexico. He is not giving up some of

that fight he has picked with Mexico, which we saw throughout the

campaign and has led to the meeting being cancelled next week. What you

make of the overall tone of what did you think of the

body language between Theresa May and Donald Trump? I think it felt at

times that she was in charge. I felt like Donald Trump was dragged be

more statement like. Except for of course the moments with Mexico. One

of the most telling moments was when one of our little editors asked a

tough question. What I have been saying on social media is that

British journalists are ASCII and tougher questions than we have seen

in the US. -- are asking tougher questions. You are watching BBC News

life here in Washington, DC. I think I am ready for something

milder.