US-UK relationship indispensable, says Trump
London, July 13 : US President Donald Trump on Friday said his country's relationship with the UK was "indispensable", just hours after his comments attacking Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit plan emerged.
At a news conference following talks at the Prime Minister's country residence, Trump said: "The relationship between our two nations is indispensable to the cause of liberty, justice, and peace."
He also said that "whatever" Britain does after it leaves the EU is "OK with us" as long as the US and UK can continue to trade together and called Brexit an "incredible opportunity", the BBC reported.
"Once the Brexit process is concluded, and perhaps the UK has left the EU - I don't know what they're going to do, but whatever you do is OK with me. That's your decision. Whatever you're going to do is OK with us. Just make sure we can trade together. That's all that matters," Trump said.
On her part, the British leader said they had discussed plans for an "ambitious" trade agreement.
However, Trump's comments were in stark contrast to what he said in an interview to the Sun tabloid that was published on Thursday.
He had said that May had ignored his advice on Brexit and warned that the UK will probably not get any future trade deal with the US, if it goes ahead with May's plan for post-Brexit ties with the European Union.
Trump said May's plan would "probably kill the deal" as it would mean the US "would be dealing with the EU" instead of with the UK.
He had also praised May's Conservative Party rival and former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, saying that he would make a "great Prime Minister", adding "I think he's got what it takes".
But later, Trump criticised the Sun's report by calling it "fake news". "I didn't criticize the Prime Minister. I have a lot of respect for her. And unfortunately, there was a story that was done, which was, you know, generally fine. But it didn't put in what I said about May. And I said tremendous things."
He said he had not given May advice on how to deal with the EU but "did give her a suggestion... and I think she found it maybe too brutal". Trump added that he had a recording of the interview and it would support his argument.
Meanwhile, thousands of people were protesting in central London against his visit. A large balloon, portraying the President as a baby, was floated in Parliament Square as part of the demonstrations. Other protests were due to take place across the UK on Friday and Saturday.
May has been making the case for a US free trade deal with Trump, on his first UK visit as President. She said the US was "keen" to do a deal with the UK, adding: "We will do a trade deal with them and with others around the rest of the world".
She maintained the government's Brexit agreement "delivers" on the referendum vote.
Earlier, Trump said he and May had spoken for an hour-and-a-half at the black-tie dinner, which he attended with his wife Melania at Blenheim Palace on Thursday evening. "I think we probably never developed a better relationship than last night," he said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Siddaramaiah backs TN CM's call for renewed discourse on Centre-State relations
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has written to his counterpart in Tamil Nadu, M K Stalin, expressing the state's strong support for a renewed national discourse on Centre–State relations.
Siddaramaiah said he will urge the union government to provide an institutional platform - such as a revitalised Inter-State Council - for all states to deliberate and restore balance in our federal structure.
Taking to social media platform 'X', the Karnataka CM said federalism is not a political demand - it is part of the basic structure of our Constitution.
"Over the years, increasing centralisation in fiscal and legislative matters has disturbed the delicate balance envisioned by our Constitution makers. States must have the authority and fiscal space to fulfil the responsibilities entrusted to them. India’s strength lies in cooperative federalism, constitutional trust, and respect for diversity," he said.
He assured that Karnataka stands ready to engage constructively in strengthening India’s democratic and federal framework.
Siddaramaiah has written to the TN CM in response to Stalin's letter dated February 20, 2026, forwarding Part 1 of the report of the high-level committee on Union-State relations.
In his letter dated March 2, Siddaramaiah acknowledged and appreciated the initiative taken by the Tamil Nadu government in initiating the report, which seeks "constitutional correction".
Noting that the questions raised in the report go to the heart of India's constitutional morality, the chief minister said federalism was not an act of administrative convenience but a structural guarantee against concentration of power.
"Over the decades, however, a phenomenon of incremental centralisation has altered the federal balance through expansive interpretations of the Concurrent List, conditional fiscal transfers, centrally designed schemes with diminishing State flexibility, and procedural bottlenecks in governor's assent," Siddaramaiah said in the letter.
He claimed that what was intended as cooperative federalism has increasingly resembled "coercive federalism".
In the letter, Siddaramaiah said Karnataka shares many of the concerns articulated in the committee's report.
"We have consistently emphasised that fiscal federalism must align authority with responsibility. Articles 268 to 281, read with the role of the Finance Commission under Article 280 and the GST framework under Article 279A, cannot operate in a manner that dilutes the fiscal sovereignty of States. The doctrine of subsidiarity, that governance should occur at the most immediate level consistent with efficiency, is not alien to our constitutional design; it is implicit within it," he added.
He stressed that Karnataka, like Tamil Nadu, has been vocal in asserting the legitimate constitutional space of states, whether in matters of language policy, education, public health, fiscal devolution, or legislative autonomy.
"These are not sectional claims; they are constitutional claims. They arise from a principled commitment to pluralism, diversity, and democratic accountability," the letter stated.
At this juncture, Siddaramaiah said it is imperative that all states, irrespective of political affiliations, join hands in constructive federal dialogue. Federal renewal cannot be a solitary endeavour of one or two States; it must emerge as a collective articulation.
"The objective, as your letter rightly emphasises, is not to weaken the union but to right-size it, to ensure that national energy is concentrated on genuinely national priorities, while states are trusted with spheres constitutionally entrusted to them," he added.
In this regard, he further stated that it would be both appropriate and necessary for the union government to provide an institutional platform for all states to deliberate upon these questions.
"Whether through a revitalised Inter-State Council under Article 263, a special conclave of Chief Ministers, or a structured constitutional review dialogue, the union must facilitate a forum where states can place their recommendations formally, transparently, and deliberatively. The absence of such structured engagement has contributed to the perception that cooperative federalism has receded from lived practice," he added.
