Donald Trump says 'there goes that relationship' when asked a difficult question in press conference with Theresa May
New President appears distinctly unimpressed with awkward question from British journalist
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Your support makes all the difference.Donald Trump has jokingly threatened the US-UK special relationship after being asked a difficult question during a joint press conference with Theresa May.
The Prime Minister was appearing alongside the President at the White House as the first world leader to make an official visit since his inauguration.
He used the event to announce a state visit to the UK later this year and praised what he referred to as "wonderful" Brexit.
But he appeared to bristle upon fielding a question from the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg about his "alarming" beliefs regarding Russia, the use of torture and a potential ban on Muslims entering the US.
Turning to Ms May, he said: "That's your choice of a question? That's it for that relationship".
Mr Trump eventually responded to the point about torture by saying his new Defense Secretary, General James 'Mad Dog' Mattis, did not believe it worked and that he would listen to his advice.
He said: “We have a great general who has just been appointed secretary of defence, General James Mattis. And the has stated publicly that he does not necessarily believe in torture and water boarding - however you want to define it.
“He’s an expert, he's highly respected, he's the general’s general. I’m going to rely on him. I happen to feel it does work but I am going with our leaders."
Ms Kuenssberg also asked Ms May whether she had remained true to her promise to be "frank" with the President on the issues she disagreed with him on and questioned whether Mr Trump listened to her.
Ms May responded that she did believe Mr Trump was listening as that is "part of having a dialogue".
She said: "I’ve been listening to the president and the president has been listening to me. That is part of having a dialogue.
"There will be times when we disagree. The point of the special relationship is that we are able to have that open and frank discussion.
"But I am clear also that there are many issues on which the UK and the US stand by side on.
"As I said yesterday in my speech that we are at a moment now then we can build a stronger special relationship that is not just in the interest of the UK and the US but in the interests of the wider world as well."
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