London: US President Donald Trump threw his weight behind Boris Johnson's campaign to be Britain's next prime minister and urged all candidates to pledge boost defence spending, in a striking intervention ahead of his state visit next week.
"I think Boris would do a very good job. I think he would be excellent," Trump told the Sun newspaper about the former foreign secretary and leading Brexit campaigner, who is one of the front-runners to succeed Theresa May as head of the Conservative Party.
Trump arrives in Britain on Monday for a three-day state visit at the invitation of Queen Elizabeth before attending World War Two commemorations in France and visiting Ireland.
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He told the Sun other Conservative lawmakers have sought his endorsement - though not environment minister Michael Gove, who has criticised his stance on Iran.
Trump also praised Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt's pledge to increase British defence spending.
"Yes. I like him," Trump said when asked about Hunt. "The UK should be able to defend themselves. It's a great and very special place," he said, noting that higher British defence spending could boost exports of US military equipment.
