BREXIT/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/UK: “Donald Trump is using his U.K. state visit to anoint Brexit winners and losers. The president on Tuesday [6-4-19] fully cast his lot with political leaders pushing for Britain to crash out of the European Union — and in the process trampled on diplomatic norms that foreign leaders generally avoid meddling in domestic politics. Britain is especially fragile at the moment, with Prime Minister Theresa May set to step aside in the coming days, casting doubt on how — or even if — the United Kingdom will leave the EU. But Trump barreled into the Brexit quagmire on Tuesday. In just a matter of a few hours, he snubbed the leader of the opposition — who wants a close relationship with the EU after Brexit and if he can’t get it, advocates a second referendum on the options — in favor of meeting with two avid Brexiteers and chatting with a third. Trump ‘is very interested as to who the next Conservative leader and prime minister is,’ said Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage, following his own meeting with the president Tuesday. But it’s not clear Trump’s pressure will win him the nationalist ally he craves in Europe.”
–Gabby Orr and Charlie Cooper, “Donald Trump plays Brexit kingmaker,” Politico, June 4, 2019 7:15 pm