Donald Trump today praised Boris Johnson amid the coronavirus pandemic despite simmering Transatlantic tensions over Covid-19 and racism.
The US President said the Prime Minister has “tremendous respect” for work on a vaccine against the “mean and nasty” virus - and “we’re going to all take care of it together.”
In a video message to a global vaccine summit - hosted by the UK today - Trump said it was “great” to be partnering together and “we will work hard, we will work strong.”
It comes despite splits between the two nations over both the coronavirus response, and the response to the death of George Floyd at the hands of police.
Boris Johnson today urged global nations to work with the World Health Organisation - which has been attacked by Trump.
Meanwhile a UK minister, Kemi Badenoch, today said George Floyd had been “brutally murdered” at the hands of police.
Trump has branded protesters against Mr Floyd’s death “thugs” and threatened military intervention and “shooting” by law enforcement.
While the UK government has been careful not to criticise Trump directly, Boris Johnson last night said the man’s death was "appalling and inexcusable" and people must have the right to protest.
And Labour and campaign groups have called for the UK to suspend exports of tear gas and rubber bullets to the US - something Mr Johnson hasn’t yet done.
Boris Johnson today opened the Gavi vaccine alliance summit, attended virtually by at least 35 heads of state and seeking to raise £6 billion to immunise 300 million children against infectious diseases within five years.
Mr Johnson said the UK would remain the world's leading donor to the partnership, contributing £1.65 billion over the next five years.
But he urged countries to “co-operate on a scale beyond anything we have seen before” with groups like the WHO.
Trump said today in a video message to the summit: “Boris Johnson is someone with tremendous respect for you and everything you do.
“He called, he said you think you could do something maybe around the Oval Office or right by the Oval Office, I said why not, it happens to be right behind me.
“As the coronavirus has shown there are no borders it doesn’t discriminate. It’s mean, it’s nasty, but we’re going to all take care of it together.
“It’s great to be partnering with you. We will work hard we will work strong, send my regards to Boris and good luck, let’s get the answer.”
Meanwhile, Boris Johnson has been resisting mounting pressure to directly condemn the President over his response to anti-racism protests.
A Cabinet minister, Brandon Lewis, today twice refused to condemn the President.
Mr Lewis told Sky News: “We've all seen what's happened is as appalling situation, absolutely dreadful and people have a right to protest and we've seen that across the world.
"I would just say to people generally if they’re going to protest, just to make sure they do that peacefully - that makes their message all the more powerful.
"And of course at the moment, with the coronavirus, to do so following the social distancing rules."
Asked if the PM should “pick up the phone” he said: “The PM and president do talk and they talk on a range of issues from time to time.
"I've no doubt when they do speak they will be talking about what's happening across the world.
"But I have to say, obviously at the moment this is ultimately a matter for the US authorities.
"There are the prosecutions now going forward, that's good to see. We all want to make sure that we see that justice is done."
"We've said what happened in the US is appalling and people do have a right to protest."