*By Alisha Haridasani*
President Donald Trump on Friday tried to make amends with British Prime Minister Theresa May, a day after he criticized her in an explosive interview with The Sun newspaper, further adding to the [confusion](https://cheddar.com/videos/confusion-at-nato-after-trump-claims-spending-victory) swirling around his jaunt across Europe.
“I have a lot of respect for the Prime Minister,” Trump said in a joint presser with May in Buckinghamshire, UK.
A day earlier, while the president was dining with May at Blenheim Palace, The Sun tabloid newspaper published audio of an interview with him.
“I did give \[May\] my views on what she should do and how she should negotiate,” Trump said in that interview about the PM's Brexit deal. “She didn’t follow those views.”
He added that a soft Brexit plan would “probably kill” the chances of an independent trade deal between the UK and the United States.
“The deal that she is striking is not what the people voted on,” said Trump, publicly shaming his British counterpart and throwing the historic ‘special relationship’ between the UK and the U.S. into question.
At Friday's presser, Trump said he didn’t criticize May, dismissing the Rupert Murdoch-owned paper as “fake news,” despite the fact that the audio recording of the interview was posted on the [newspaper’s website](https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/6766531/trump-may-brexit-us-deal-off/).
He also made an about-face on trade. “We want to trade with the UK, and the UK wants to trade with us,” he said. “After speaking with the Prime Minister’s people and representatives and trade experts, it will absolutely be possible.”
Trump’s interview with The Sun added to May’s political crisis at home, days after she presented her Brexit plan to her cabinet.
The deal proposes that Britain would continue to adopt Europe’s regulations for most goods, including agricultural products and manufactured goods, which is the current practice for all members of the EU’s single market. Britain's services, such as finance and banking, will not be included in the single market.
The Brexit plan was softer than many in May’s Conservative party were hoping for and led to the resignations of three ministers within 24 hours this week, including Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who has been a vocal proponent of a clean cut from Europe.
When Trump arrived in London, her office was still reeling from the political crisis.
In his interview with The Sun, Trump took Johnson’s side. “I was very saddened to see that he was leaving government.”
“I think he would be a great Prime Minister,” said Trump.
On Friday, Trump dug in on his divisive views about immigration as well. “I think it’s been very bad for Europe...I think they better watch themselves,” he said.
May tried to distance herself from Trump's comments on immigration. "The UK has a proud history of welcoming people who are feeling persecution to our country," she said. "We have a proud history of welcoming people who want to come to our country to contribute to our economy and contribute to our society."
Trump and the first lady also met with the Queen on Friday. On Monday, the president will head to Finland for a highly contentious meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin.
As President Biden's poll numbers fall with Black voters, Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass. 7th District) joined Cheddar to discuss what she feels could help the embattled administration: deliver on policies. Pressley pointed to stalled legislation such as new voting rights laws and Build Back Betters and canceling student loan debt, which would go a long way to improving his standing with Black constituents. "President Biden has the authority and the power to alleviate this burden, which would also help in closing the racial wealth gap, and he can do it by executive action with the stroke of a pen," she said. "And it doesn't require one vote from Congress. So, the Biden administration just needs to deliver to Black America in a tangible and impactful way."
Mayor Ras Baraka of Newark, NJ and Ayana Morris, co-director of the documentary 'Why Is We Americans?,' join Cheddar News to discuss the new documentary highlighting the impact of the Baraka family.
Former New York City mayor and lawyer to Donald Trump Rudy Giuliani made his singing debut on a taping of Fox’s The Masked Singer. However, Ken Jeong and Robin Thicke, two judges on the competition show, reportedly left in protest when Giuliani was unmasked upon being eliminated.
All Hands celebrates Black History Month by highlighting achievements in inclusivity and paying homage to those who have fought for equal rights. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) joins Cheddar News to discuss voter suppression; Damali Peterman, CEO of Breakthrough ADR, elaborates on the biggest barriers for Black professionals; Andre Perry, senior fellow of Brookings Institution, dives into student loans and the racial wealth divide; and lastly, BET CEO Scott Mills discusses the company's initiatives for 2022.
All month long Cheddar News is celebrating Black History Month.
In our nation’s capital, Black history is being made right now.
cheddar's own Arielle Hixon puts the spotlight on three lawmakers making that happen, Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL), Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO), and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC).
Representative Maxine Waters (D-Calif. 43rd District) joined Cheddar News to talk about the current political climate in America, including efforts to roll back voting rights in multiple states in light of Black History Month. "Why do we have to deal with those who still believe that somehow this country only belongs to the whites of the country and that somehow they have to do everything that they can to undermine our voting and do voters suppression to keep us from being influential and at the table by which to solve problems?" she asked. Waters chided "two Democrats" who she said were stymying attempts to rectify the issue and also spoke on President Biden’s promise to nominate a Black woman to the Supreme Court.
Wall Street saw another volatile day after the Federal Reserve left rates unchanged for now, with plans to raise rates in March at its next meeting in order to ease inflation. Fed Chair Jerome Powell said the Fed has not made decisions on the size of rate increases, adding that the Fed is not trying to get inflation below two-percent. Ken Johnson, CFA and Investment Strategy Analyst explains why Powell thinks that high inflation is a significant threat to the labor market.
