Theresa May wanted to call her husband to warn him that she had been photographed holding hands with Donald Trump before it “hit the media”, a new documentary has revealed.
A former aide of Ms May explained that the awkward encounter unfolded while the then prime minister had visited the White House to persuade Mr Trump to make a supportive statement about Nato.
According to the aide, who appears in the new BBC Documentary, Trump Takes on the World by documentary maker Norma Percy, Ms May was “surprised” when he took her hand as they walked through the White House.
“He held her hand going through the colonnades, which took us all by surprise and took Theresa by surprise,” Fiona McLeod Hill, the former joint chief of staff at No 10, said.
“But I think she felt she couldn’t really take her hand back, so she was stuck with the hand in the hand. And the first thing she said was ‘I need to call Philip just to let him know that I’ve been holding hands with another man before it hits the media’.”
The encounter between the two leaders was described by British aides as well as Trump insiders and comes as part of an exploration of the former president’s relationship with other world leaders.
The former prime minister has yet to respond to The Independent’s request for comment on the claims.
During Ms May’s visit, both leaders used the news conference to reinforce their commitment to the “special relationship” between the US and UK.
Ms May said at the time that an “even stronger special relationship” between the two countries was in the interests of the wider world.
KT McFarland, the former US deputy national security adviser, says in the documentary that Ms May reportedly gave the “image” that she was not a leader of “strength” to Mr Trump.
Ms May was later reportedly subjected to Mr Trump in “full bloom” at lunch during her visit as the former president launched into a stream-of-consciousness rant, Thomas Shannon, former Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs says in the documentary.
According to the documentary, Ms May tried to steer the conversation towards Vladimir Putin and asked if he had spoken to him, which he denied.
Mr Trump’s chief of staff reportedly informed the former president that Mr Putin had in fact called the White House but that they had not put him through and they were scheduling a return call.
Ms Hill explains the reported outburst that followed, detailing how “Mr Trump at this point looks not orange but red. He flipped. Furious.”
The president’s unusual body language when entertaining high profile politicians often found its way into the headlines during his time in office, with experts having said he often used it in attempt to assert dominance.
Mr Trump was seen similarly leading French President Emmanuel Macron around the White House grounds by the hand during a visit in 2018.
Francois Hollande said in the documentary that he voiced concern over Mr Trump when advising Mr Macron, his successor.
Mr Hollande said that he advised Mr Macron: “Don’t expect anything from Donald Trump. Do not think you’ll be able to change his mind. Don’t think that it’s possible to turn him or seduce him.”
The former president is currently facing his second impeachment trial, where he will be tried in the Senate for a second time on 9 February.
Trump Takes on the World begins on Wednesday at 9pm on BBC Two.
