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The UK will be “at the top of the queue” for a trade deal with the US after Brexit, one of Donald Trump‘s most senior aides has said.
John Bolton, the president’s national security adviser, said Mr Trump was “eager for the will of the British people to be carried out, and he is even more eager to do a trade deal”.
The veteran US politician also attempted to assuage widely-held concerns over the potential damage from a no-deal Brexit, highlighting how Britain would be able to boost transatlantic trade.
“People who worry about the United Kingdom crashing out of the European Union – they are going to crash right into the United States,” Mr Bolton told Sky News.
“We are standing here waiting to make a trade deal with a UK independent of the EU.”
In pictures | Pro-Brexit march in London
1/20
A man comes face to face with a police officer
PA
2/20
A pro-Brexit protester faces off with police during a demonstration outside Downing Street
REUTERS
3/20
Pro-Brexit supporters burn a EU flag near to Trafalgar Square
PA
4/20
Pro-Brexit supporters stand in the road at Trafalgar Square
PA
5/20
Pro-Brexit supporters confront police officers securing the gates of Downing Street
AFP/Getty Images
6/20
Pro-Brexit protesters face off with police
REUTERS
7/20
Demonstrators march holding flags and placards during a pro Brexit rally
Getty Images
8/20
Pro-Brexit protesters clash with police after their rally in Westminster
AP
9/20
A man takes a photo of a Metropolitan Police officer
AP
10/20
Police officers clash with demonstrators
Getty Images
11/20
Pro-Brexit protesters clash with police after their rally in Westminster,
AP
12/20
The pro-Brexit protest was attended by thousands
AP
13/20
One protester wearing a Guy Fawkes march
AP
14/20
Police officer secure the gates of Downing Street
AFP/Getty Images
15/20
Pro-Brexit protesters stand near police
AP
16/20
Demonstrators clash with police officers
Getty Images
17/20
A far-right protester is detained by police
REUTERS
18/20
A Pro-Brexit supporter wearing a Donald Trump mask in Whitehall
PA
19/20
PA
20/20
Brexit supporters march in Fulham in the final leg of the March To Leave Rally
Getty Images
1/20
A man comes face to face with a police officer
PA
2/20
A pro-Brexit protester faces off with police during a demonstration outside Downing Street
REUTERS
3/20
Pro-Brexit supporters burn a EU flag near to Trafalgar Square
PA
4/20
Pro-Brexit supporters stand in the road at Trafalgar Square
PA
5/20
Pro-Brexit supporters confront police officers securing the gates of Downing Street
AFP/Getty Images
6/20
Pro-Brexit protesters face off with police
REUTERS
7/20
Demonstrators march holding flags and placards during a pro Brexit rally
Getty Images
8/20
Pro-Brexit protesters clash with police after their rally in Westminster
AP
9/20
A man takes a photo of a Metropolitan Police officer
AP
10/20
Police officers clash with demonstrators
Getty Images
11/20
Pro-Brexit protesters clash with police after their rally in Westminster,
AP
12/20
The pro-Brexit protest was attended by thousands
AP
13/20
One protester wearing a Guy Fawkes march
AP
14/20
Police officer secure the gates of Downing Street
AFP/Getty Images
15/20
Pro-Brexit protesters stand near police
AP
16/20
Demonstrators clash with police officers
Getty Images
17/20
A far-right protester is detained by police
REUTERS
18/20
A Pro-Brexit supporter wearing a Donald Trump mask in Whitehall
PA
19/20
PA
20/20
Brexit supporters march in Fulham in the final leg of the March To Leave Rally
Getty Images
Mr Trump has predicted that trade between the US and UK will increase “very substantially” after Britain’s departure from the EU.
Speaking earlier this month, he said that Brexit had been negotiated “badly” but he would like to see the “whole situation work out”.
“We are talking with them about trade and we can do a very big trade deal with the UK,” he said.
Former US president Barack Obama drew the ire of Brexiteers in the run-up to the 2016 referendum by saying Britain would be “at the back of the queue” to negotiate a trade deal it left the EU.
Mr Bolton told Sky News: “This isn’t the Obama administration; Britain will be at the top of the queue for us.”
The prospect of a wide-ranging post-Brexit free trade deal with the US has not been universally welcomed in Britain.
Some critics have warned that Washington could demand unfettered access to the UK for American farmers to UK consumers, potentially damaging British producers.
There have also been warnings over food standards, although they have been vociferously rejected by US figures including Mr Trump’s ambassador to the UK, Woody Johnson.