Trump promises 'very quick' trade deal with Brexit Britain

Donald Trump has pledged to agree a quick trade deal between the US with Britain once it has exited from the European Union.

The US president-elect, who is days away from his inauguration, said it was “smart” of Britain to leave the EU and predicted that other countries would follow.

In an interview with Conservative MP and leading Brexiteer Michael Gove for The Times, he said: "I think Brexit is going to end up being a great thing. I’ll tell you, the fact that your pound sterling has gone down? Great. Because business is unbelievable in a lot of parts in the UK."

After the referendum result in June 2016, the pound sank to near 30-year lows against the dollar and has since fallen further, as investors gauged the task facing Britain as it leaves the EU.

Trump said that he would hasten a trade deal with Britain, as Prime Minister Theresa May is set to meet him in the spring.

“I’m a big fan of the UK, we’re gonna work very hard to get it done quickly and done properly. Good for both sides. We’ll have a meeting [with Theresa May] right after I get into the White House and [...] we’re gonna get something done very quickly.”

Trump said one of the reasons to leave the EU was because he believed the bloc is led by Germany.

“You look at the European Union and it’s Germany. Basically a vehicle for Germany. That’s why I thought the UK was so smart in getting out."

He added: “I believe others will leave. I do think keeping it together is not gonna be as easy as a lot of people think”.

In a separate interview with German newspaper Bild, he also criticised German Chancellor Angela Merkel for letting refugees into the country, and that her open door policy was “catastrophic mistake”.