President Donald Trump faced backlash Monday after suggesting the United Kingdom remains part of the European Union.
During a press briefing in Alberta, Canada, with British Prime Minister Kier Starmer, Trump remarked, “You all know the great PM of the UK, and we just signed a document.” He continued, “We just signed it, and so we have our trade agreement with the EU.”
The comment quickly circulated on social media, with many pointing out that the UK officially left the EU in 2020.
Andrew Weinstein, a visiting fellow at the Institute for Democracy, wrote on the social platform X: “Does he know the UK left the EU more than 5 years ago.”
S.V. Dáte, White House correspondent at HuffPost, said: “If you were about to point out that the UK is no longer in the EU, that just proves you’re a globalist elitist. Real Americans are PROUD to have an ignorant president.”
Author Surowiecki wrote: “‘We have a trade agreement with the European Union.’” No, no you do not.”
“Imagine if Joe Biden had stood with the leader of another country to announce a trade deal, dropped his papers & named the wrong country (ies),” wrote a user.
“Surely the sitting president of the United States has heard about Brexit & doesn’t think the UK is in the EU still…right?” tweeted another user.
Trump and Starmer announced during the briefing Monday that they have finalized a trade deal reached between the two allies last month.