Donald Trump in his office at Trump Tower during his interview with The Times. He told Michael Gove: “I love the UK”

Donald Trump will offer Britain a quick and “fair” trade deal with America within weeks of taking office to help make Brexit a “great thing”.

Speaking to The Times in his first UK ­interview as president-elect, he revealed that he was inviting Theresa May to visit him “right after” he gets into the White House and wants a trade agreement between the two countries secured “very quickly”.

Mr Trump also predicted that other countries would follow Britain’s lead in leaving the European Union, claiming it had been deeply ­damaged by the migration crisis.

The president-elect on Brexit, Britain and the Queen

“I think it’s very tough,” he said. “People, countries want their own identity and the UK wanted its own identity.”

He revealed that Mrs May had written to him just after Christmas