In a joint press conference the Prime Minister said she had extended an invitation from the Queen for the President to visit the UK - and he's accepted
Donald Trump has hailed the "special relationship" between Britain and the United States as a beacon for "justice and peace" as he welcomed Theresa May to the White House.
In a joint press conference the Prime Minister said she had extended an invitation from the Queen for the President to make a state visit to the UK later this year, which Mr Trump had accepted.
Mr Trump said: "The special relationship between our two countries has been one of the great forces in history for justice and for peace.
"Today the United States renews our deep bond with Britain - military, financial, culture and political. We pledge our lasting support to this most special relationship."
Mr Trump said: "Great days lie ahead for our two peoples and our two countries.
"On behalf of our nation, I thank you for joining us here today as a really great honour."
Mrs May said: "Thank you for inviting me so soon after your inauguration and I'm delighted to be able to congratulate you on what was a stunning election victory.
"And, as you say, the invitation is an indication of the strength and importance of the special relationship that exists between our two countries, a relationship based on the bonds of history, of family, kinship and common interests.
"And in a further sign of the importance of that relationship I have today been able to convey Her Majesty the Queen's hope that President Trump and the First Lady would pay a state visit to the United Kingdom later this year and I'm delighted that the president has accepted that invitation."
Mr Trump was challenged about his support for torture and insisted that he would allow decisions to be made by his defence secretary James Mattis - who has different views on the issue.
Challenged about his views on torture, Russia, banning Muslims and punishment for abortion by BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg, Mr Trump joked to Mrs May: "This was your choice of a question. There goes that relationship."
Mrs May said: "I have been listening to the president and the president has been listening to me. That's the point of having a conversation and a dialogue."
She added: "There will be times when we disagree and issues on which we disagree. The point of the special relationship is that we are able to have that open and frank discussion so we are able to make that clear when it happens.
"But I am clear also that there are many issues on which the UK and the US stand alongside one another, many issues on which we agree."
She said an "even stronger special relationship" would be in the interests of the wider world.
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