Donald Trump has reportedly left civil servants amused and befuddled by extending an unusual and un presidential invitation to Theresa May.

Downing Street refused to deny a leaked transcript in which the president-elect told the British prime minister: “If you travel to the US you should let me know.”

Given that this was the first conversation since the billionaire’s unexpected victory, and was meant to formally reassure both parties over the “special relationship” between the US and the UK, it has been compared by Twitter users to a casual invite to a friend, not a state visit.

Asked about the reported conversation, the prime minister’s spokesman said: “The invitation from the president-elect was a very warm invitation to come as soon as possible.”

According to the Times, Trump’s remarks were disclosed in an official transcript of the 10-minute conversation held last Thursday.



Trump also disclosed that he was a big fan of the Queen and asked for his regards to be passed on to Britain’s longest reigning monarch, the report claimed.



Overseas visits by the prime minister to the US cost hundreds of thousands of pounds and can take months to arrange.

On Thursday, a government minister referred to Trump as a peer of the realm, before quickly dampening speculation that he could be ennobled.



Joyce Anelay , a Foreign Office minister, told the House of Lords: “When my right honourable friend the prime minister had a conversation on the telephone with Lord Trump,” prompting laughter among fellow peers.



Lady Anelay added: “I have clearly made one of the most popular proposals ever for an increase in the size of this house. As I say, when my right honourable friend had a conversation with President-elect Trump, he ended by extending an invitation to the prime minister to visit him in the United States as soon as possible, and I am sure that she shall.”



May was only the 10th world leader to speak to Trump after his US election victory. She has rejected calls to use Nigel Farage as a go-between with Trump.

