Donald Trump has invited Boris Johnson and his girlfriend Carrie Symonds to a ‘victory tour’ visit of the White House, it’s reported today.
Multiple reports say the US President extended the invitation to the PM and environmental campaigner in a congratulatory phone call after the Tory leader won an 80-seat majority.
While the PM will be busy with Brexit in January, a visit is reportedly possible in the spring – just as the President is gripped by an impeachment trial in the Senate.
A source close to the White House told the Sunday Times: “Some potential dates have been floated in mid-January but nothing has been formally agreed. But it is clear that both sides want to make it happen some time in early 2020.”
A Transatlantic trip would step up the bromance between the pair after Trump backed Boris Johnson during the general election .
It would also dramatically step up the role of Ms Symonds, who avoided the public eye when she first moved into No10 – but has since stayed with the PM and the Queen at Balmoral and joined him on the No10 doorstep after his election win.
A Downing Street source said the reports were “speculation” as there were no formal plans for a US visit. But No10 has not denied the President extended an invitation when the pair spoke about their hopes for an “ambitious” US-UK trade deal on Monday.
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It comes as US officials dramatically ramp up their charm offensive to the UK in the hope of winning a free trade agreement after Brexit .
US Ambassador to London Woody Johnson said Brexit was a “really amazing opportunity for this country” and predicted the 2020s could be the “Roaring Twenties” for Britain.
In an interview with the Sunday Express, the 72-year-old said: “I’m very optimistic. I’m an American but, even by my standards, this is really an amazing opportunity for this country.
“You have a clear direction, you have really good leadership fired up to get something done.”
The Johnson & Johnson empire billionaire predicted a US-UK trade deal “can be finished quickly” despite fears US firms will try to force their own food standards on the UK.
US firms are allowed to use chemical-washed chicken and hormone-injected beef.
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Trade talks disclosed by Labour also showed they had pushed to have a say on the pricing of medicines – which campaigners fear could soar in a trade deal.
“It takes two sides but it’s on the President’s desk and when a president takes this much interest in a trade deal, that’s very positive,” Mr Johnson said.
Woody Johnson compared the shock scale of the Tory victory to Donald Trump facing his second Presidential election in November 2020.
Saying he “couldn’t believe” the “crystal clear” result in the UK when he awoke at 4am, he added: “Trump is going to win regardless, but this doesn’t hurt.
“That’s the key to this, appealing to people who have felt locked out of the process for many years – and that explains the massive change between Labour and Conservative.”
The original Roaring Twenties refers to the 1920s when a period of economic prosperity was seen in cities such as London, New York, Paris and Berlin and an artistic peak was reached following the bleakness of the First World War.
Mr Johnson, the owner of the New York Jets American football team, described the feeling in the White House around a UK-US trade deal as being “very positive”.
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Meanwhile new Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle confirmed there could be more ringing endorsements for Brexit – on deadline day itself.
Sir Lindsay, in an interview with the Sunday Telegraph, said he would “not stand in the way” of Big Ben being rung to mark Britain formally leaving the EU on January 31.
The Elizabeth Tower, which houses the Big Ben bell, is currently undergoing essential refurbishment and the chimes of the famous bell have largely been silenced to protect the hearing of those working on site.
But Sir Lindsay, who was formally installed as Speaker last week, has paved the way for special dispensation to be made for the bell to ring, like it has on Armistice Day.
“If the House wants to do it, the House will do it,” said the former Labour politician.
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“I’m not sure whether it will be at that stage in the building work that it can ring … but if that’s what the House wants, I’m not going to stand in the way because of my view. My view doesn’t matter.
“It will be a significant moment and people will do different things, and if the House wishes to do that, so be it. I certainly won’t personally block anything.”
During a visit to Estonia to meet British troops on Saturday, the Prime Minister side-stepped questions about accusations from European leaders that he was on course for a “harder Brexit than expected”.
The fears were raised by Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar who said he was anxious Britain would look to “undercut” the European Union on a host of standards after exit day.
Boris Johnson was asked about the Taoiseach’s comments while visiting British troops in Estonia on Saturday, but dodged answering the question directly.
He replied: “What everybody wants to do is put Brexit behind us on January 31 and move on, and there’s a lot of goodwill and a lot of energy now about building the new deep and special partnership, and that’s what we’re going to do.”
