Trump urged Theresa May to fix 'better reception' before UK state visit - report

Donald Trump told Theresa May he will not come to Britain for his controversial state visit until he is sure of getting a "better reception", it has been reported.

The President was said to have told the Prime Minister that he had not had "great coverage" in the UK and had urged her to "fix it for me", according to The Sun on Sunday.

It was originally reported last month that Mr Trump had informed Mrs May that he did not want to go ahead with the visit if there were likely to be large-scale protests.

The Sun on Sunday said it had now obtained a transcript of their telephone conversation in which Mr Trump said: "I haven't had great coverage out there lately, Theresa."

Mrs May replied: "Well, you know what the British press are like."

He said: "I still want to come, but I'm in no rush. So, if you can fix it for me, it would make things a lot easier.

"When I know I'm going to get a better reception, I'll come and not before."

Mrs May was widely criticised for bestowing such a controversial figure the honour of a state visit so early in his presidency when she met Mr Trump for the first time in the White House in January.

However no date has yet been set for the visit - which had originally been expected to take place this year - prompting speculation that it could be delayed until next year at the earliest.

Mr Trump confirmed that he still intended to come to London when he met Mrs May last week at the G20 summit in Hamburg, while Downing Street has said they are still working on dates.