Trump Fires Back at British PM Over Anti-Muslim Videos

He told her to focus on terrorism, not him
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 30, 2017 1:20 AM CST
Updated Nov 30, 2017 6:03 AM CST
Trump Fires Back at British PM Over Anti-Muslim Videos
President Trump speaks about tax reform Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017, in St. Charles, Mo.   (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

President Trump fired back at Theresa May on Wednesday after the British prime minister condemned his decision to retweet a far-right group's anti-Muslim videos—but he started with the wrong Theresa May. "Don't focus on me, focus on the destructive Radical Islamic Terrorism that is taking place within the United Kingdom. We are doing just fine!" Trump tweeted at a Twitter account belonging to a British woman named Theresa Scrivener, who has six followers and has tweeted nine times in eight years. Around 20 minutes later, he deleted the tweet and replaced it with one tagged with the British prime minister's official account, the Telegraph reports. May, who the AP describes as having "been under pressure to condemn Trump directly" while on a surprise trip to the Middle East, on Thursday called Trump's retweets "the wrong thing to do."

After Trump tweeted the videos from ultranationalist group Britain First, some British lawmakers called for his state visit to be called off; Politico reports London Mayor Sadiq Khan called it "increasingly clear that any official visit at all from President Trump to Britain would not be welcomed." But a May spokesman told reporters plans had not changed, saying the US "is one of our oldest and closest allies." The AP looks at the stickiness that would be involved in rescinding the invitation—the queen would have to do so—but notes one potential route: delaying the visit due to the queen's busy spring, with a new great-grandchild expected and Prince Harry's wedding scheduled. Trump's tweet was also condemned by both Democrats and Republicans, with GOP Sen. Orrin Hatch describing May as "one of the great world leaders." (More Theresa May stories.)

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