Donald Trump has said he considers the European Union to be one of America’s biggest enemies.

The US president named the bloc – which includes some of his country’s oldest allies – as “a foe” ahead of Russia and China because of “what they do to us in trade”.

His comments, in a CBS interview filmed during his visit to the UK, emerged hours after Theresa May revealed the American leader had told her she should “should sue the EU” instead of negotiating the terms of Brexit.

During an interview at the president’s Turnberry golf club in Scotland, CBS News anchor Jeff Glor asked Mr Trump to identify his “biggest foe globally right now”.

The president replied: “Well, I think we have a lot of foes. I think the European Union is a foe, what they do to us in trade. Now, you wouldn’t think of the European Union, but they’re a foe.

“Russia is foe in certain respects. China is a foe economically, certainly they are a foe. But that doesn’t mean they are bad. It doesn’t mean anything. It means that they are competitive.”

Told that “a lot of people might be surprised to hear you list the EU as a foe before China and Russia”, Mr Trump responded: “Look, EU is very difficult... I mean my mother was Scotland, my father was Germany.

“And you know I love those countries. I respect the leaders of those countries. But, in a trade sense, they’ve really taken advantage of us and many of those countries are in Nato and they weren’t paying their bills.”

Speaking ahead of a meeting with Vladimir Putin on Monday, the US leader repeated a complaint – made during the Nato summit earlier this week – about a gas pipeline between Germany and Russia.

“They’re going to be paying Russia billions and billions of dollars a year for energy and I say that’s not good, that’s not fair,” he said. “You’re supposed to be fighting for someone and then that someone gives billions of dollars to the one you’re, you know, guarding against. I think it’s ridiculous.”

He accused Germany of “waving a white flag” to Moscow.

During the interview, Mr Trump also said he “hadn’t thought” about requesting the extradition of 12 Russian intelligence officers charged with hacking into Democrat emails in a bid to influence the 2016 election.

“I might. I hadn’t thought of that,” he told Mr Glor. “But certainly, I’ll be asking about it.”

The US does not have an extradition agreement with Russia.

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PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday July 14, 2018. See PA story POLITICS Trump. Photo credit should read: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire Andrew Milligan PA Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Trump waves form golf course Getty Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting TURNBERRY, SCOTLAND - JULY 14: Scottish stand-up comedian Janey Godley gives a high-five to a police officer as she holds a sign in protest on the beach outside near Trump Turnberry Luxury Collection Resort during the U.S. President's visit to the United Kingdom on July 14, 2018 in Turnberry, Scotland. The President of the United States and First Lady, Melania Trump on their first official visit to the UK after yesterday's meetings with the Prime Minister and the Queen is in Scotland for private weekend stay at his Turnberry. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images) Leon Neal Getty Images Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Trump goes for a stroll Getty Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Trump blimpA giant balloon depicting US President Donald Trump as an orange baby is launched as protesters gather in the Meadows, after taking part in the Scotland United Against Trump march through the streets of Edinburgh AFP/Getty Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting U.S. President Donald Trump drives his golf buggy REUTERS Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting A Greenpeace protester flying a microlight passes over Donald Trump's resort in Turnberry PA Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump look at the media during their arrival on Air Force One at Glasgow Prestwick Airport in Scotland AP Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Scotland United Against Trump demonstrators gather at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh PA Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Security and police teams surround the perimeter of Trmup's golf course Getty Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Scotland United Against Trump demonstrators PA Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Teams of police officers patrol the beach outside near Trump Turnberry Luxury Collection Resort Getty Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Pro-Trump supporters demonstrate outside the US Embassy in support of President Donald Trump's visit to the UK, in London EPA Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Scottish Labour leader, Richard Leonard speaks to crowd PA Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Ex-pat AFP/Getty Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Demonstrators hold placards near the golf resort owned by US President REUTERS Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Protesters wear orange face makeup Getty Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Pro-Trump supporters demonstrate outside the US Embassy in London EPA Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Trump protestors on the beach near to the Trump Turnberry resort PA Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Protestors against the UK visit of US President Donald Trump near Aberdeen AFP/Getty Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting A mounted police officer patrols anti-Trump rally Getty Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Trump supporter Bill McGibbon outside his cottage near to the Trump Turnberry resort in South Ayrshire PA Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Trafalgar Square is filled with protesters against the UK visit of US President Donald Trump holding up placards as they take part in a march and rally in London on July 13, 2018. Tens of thousands of protesters demonstrated in London on Friday against US President Donald Trump, whose four-day visit to Britain has been marred by his extraordinary attack on Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit strategy. / AFP PHOTO / Tolga AKMENTOLGA AKMEN/AFP/Getty Images TOLGA AKMEN AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Queen Elizabeth II and President Donald Trump inspect an honour guard at Windsor Castle Getty Images Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Demonstrators on the 'Stop Trump' march through London, as part of the protests against the visit of US President Donald Trump to the UK. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday July 13, 2018. See PA story POLITICS Trump. Photo credit should read: Joe Giddens/PA Wire Joe Giddens PA Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Queen Elizabeth II stands with US President Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, during their visit to Windsor Castle PA Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting Donald Trump walks ahead of Queen Elizabeth AP Donald Trump UK visit: protests, placards and putting LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 13: Protesters take part in a demonstration against President Trump's visit to the UK in Trafalgar Square on July 13, 2018 in London, England. Tens of Thousands Of Anti-Trump protesters are expected to demonstrate in London and across the country against the UK visit by the President of the United States. Many people disagree with his policies that include migrant family separation, discrimination of transgender military personnel and changes to laws protecting women's sexual health. 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Mr Trump will fly out of Scotland for a summit with the Russian president in Helsinki on Monday.

He leaves the UK following a whirlwind tour that included meetings with Theresa May and the Queen against a backdrop of mass protests against his policies.

The president broke diplomatic protocol by criticising Ms May’s approach to Brexit on the eve of his vist, saying in an interview with The Sun that she had ignored his advice.

In a bid to then repair relations during a joint press conference on Friday, he apologised for the interview and told reporters he had merely made a “suggestion” of what she might do.

Asked to set out exactly what the president’s advice was on BBC One’s Andrew Marr Show on Sunday morning, Ms May said: “He told me I should sue the EU – sue the EU – not go into negotiations, sue them.”