Donald Trump praises 'very, very special' UK as he finally calls Theresa May

Donald Trump - Image credit: Matt Rourke AP/Press Association Images

Donald Trump today said Britain was "a very, very special place" as he and Theresa May finally spoke for the first time.

The president-elect and the Prime Minister pledged to strengthen the so-called "special relationship" between the UK and America during a phone call earlier this afternoon.

It follows suggestions of a snub, after it emerged Trump had spoken to nine other world leaders - including the Irish taoiseach Enda Kenny and the Indian prime minister Narendra Modi - before picking up the phone to Theresa May.

Downing Street said the Prime Minister had congratulated the billionaire property mogul on his "hard-fought election campaign and victory".

"The Prime Minister and President-elect Trump agreed that the US-UK relationship was very important and very special, and that building on this would be a priority for them both," said Number 10 in a statement.

"President-elect Trump set out his close and personal connections with, and warmth for, the UK. He said he was confident that the special relationship would go from strength to strength."

The statement added: "The Prime Minister said that we have a long history of shared values and added that she looked forward to that continuing in the future.

"She highlighted her wish to strengthen bilateral trade and investment with the US as we leave the EU. But she said that our relationship is so much more than that and our two countries have always stood together as close allies when it counts the most.

"President-elect Trump strongly agreed and added that the UK is a ‘very, very special place for me and for our country."

The phone call, which aides described as "full and warm", ended with Trump inviting May to visit him in America "as soon as possible".