Theresa May is expected to visit Donald Trump in the White House next week - either Thursday or Friday.

It appears likely the Prime Minister will be the first foreign leader to meet the new President since his inauguration.

Sky News understands her visit, previously planned for February, has been brought forward at the suggestion of the President's closest aides.

A White House senior administration official confirmed that Mrs May "will be at the White House this coming week to meet with President Trump", but did not say on which day.

Trump and May are different people, says Gove

Mr Trump later added that the visit would happen "very shortly".


But it has been reported in the UK that the PM hopes to travel to the US on Thursday "for a couple of days" and hold talks with Mr Trump in the Oval Office.

It has been suggested that Steve Bannon, Mr Trump's chief strategist, expressed a desire for the two leaders to meet sooner rather than later for a "business-like" visit.

Although there was no confirmation of the visit from either Downing Street or the British Embassy in Washington, the White House statement on the visit has not been disputed.

In an interview with the Financial Times, the Prime Minister said she would urge Mr Trump when she meets him to recognise the importance of NATO and not to undermine European unity.

She said she expected to have "very frank" discussions with the new President and wanted to make early progress towards a US-UK trade deal.

PM: 'Trump comments unacceptable'

Talking in her Maidenhead constituency on Friday, she said she was sure the President "recognises the importance and significance of NATO".

She added: "I'm also confident the USA will recognise the importance of the co-operation we have in Europe to ensure our collective defence and collective security."

On trade, she said: "I'm confident we can look at areas even in advance of being able to sign a formal trade deal.

"Perhaps we could look at barriers to trade at the moment and remove some of those barriers to open up that new trading relationship."

It has been reported that Mr Trump and his team want to embrace comparisons with Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher, who were political soulmates during the 1980s.

Image: PM Margaret Thatcher had a close relationship with President Reagan

But the Prime Minister told the FT: "As you know, I'm not someone who goes around with a model I want to emulate from the past.

"When he says that he means he wants it to be a very special relationship and I'm confident we can make it such."

Speaking to Sky News recently, Mrs May was critical of Mr Trump's lewd remarks about women.

In her first TV interview of the year, the PM told Sophy Ridge on Sunday that his offensive comments were "unacceptable", but pointed out he had since apologised for them.

The first meeting between the two leaders - often called a "get acquainted trip" in Washington - will not include any glittering social events or a visit to Camp David, the President's country retreat.

Those will no doubt follow on future visits by the PM to Washington - if she and Mr Trump hit it off at their first meeting next week.

The Sunday Times says the PM is due to see Mr Trump in Washington on Friday after visiting Philadelphia on Thursday to meet senior Republican leaders from Congress, who will have to approve any US-UK free trade deal.

She will reportedly address a Republican "congressional retreat" and hold talks with Paul Ryan, the speaker of the House of Representatives, and Mitch McConnell, the Senate majority leader.

When she is in Washington, Mrs May is expected to offer Mr Trump a return visit, likely to include a state banquet hosted by the Queen at Windsor Castle or Buckingham Palace.

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Watch continuing coverage of President Trump's first days in office on Sky News.