Trump congratulates Boris Johnson, says nations can now ‘strike a massive new trade deal’

President Trump on Friday congratulated British Prime Minister Boris Johnson after the Conservative Party won a majority of seats in the country’s Thursday elections, a large boost for Brexit supporters. 

“Congratulations to Boris Johnson on his great WIN! Britain and the United States will now be free to strike a massive new Trade Deal after BREXIT. This deal has the potential to be far bigger and more lucrative than any deal that could be made with the E.U. Celebrate Boris!” Trump tweeted in the early hours of Thursday morning. 

Congratulations to Boris Johnson on his great WIN! Britain and the United States will now be free to strike a massive new Trade Deal after BREXIT. This deal has the potential to be far bigger and more lucrative than any deal that could be made with the E.U. Celebrate Boris!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 13, 2019

The Conservatives held on to 358 seats in Parliament, and the main opposition Labour Party kept 203 seats with 642 of 650 results declared on Friday, Reuters reported. 

Johnson called the win, which is the biggest Conservative majority since the era of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, “a powerful new mandate to get Brexit done,” according to Reuters.

This is not the first time Trump has promised a trade deal after the United Kingdom leaves the European Union, which its citizens voted for in a 2016 referendum. In August, Trump promised “a very big trade deal” with the country after a meeting between the leaders at a Group of Seven summit in Biarritz, France.

“We’re having very good trade talks between the U.K. and ourselves. We’re going to do a very big trade deal — bigger than we’ve ever had with the U.K.,” Trump told reporters.

“At some point, they won’t have the obstacle of — they won’t have the anchor around their ankle because that’s what they had,” Trump continued, referring to the EU. “So, we’re going to have some very good trade talks and big numbers.”

Johnson acknowledged that there would be “tough talks” to negotiate a deal, calling for “huge opportunities” for the U.K. to “penetrate the American market in a way that we currently don’t.” 

Trump has often spoken positively about his relationship with the Conservative leader and critically about Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn.

Earlier this month, Trump vowed that he would “stay out of the election,” telling reporters, “I think Boris is very capable and I think he’ll do a good job.”