Donald Trump hailed “wonderful” Britain and praised Brexit as he promised a prosperous new era for trans-atlantic relations.
The US President also declared Keir Starmer a ”special man” as the two leaders staged an extraordinary love-in at the White House.
Mr Trump said: “I think we have just a great relationship… Frankly what they did was the right thing at the time and probably prove out over the centuries, you have a long time to go.
“I predicted it would happen and it did happen.
“It will work itself out, I think it’s already worked itself out.”
Mr Trump did not rule out tariffs on the UK but said he had a “warm spot” for the country and would have a “good discussion” about it with Britain.
“We’re talking about a very different place” to the EU, he said. “I have investments, I own Turnberry, I own Aberdeen, I own a great place called Doonbeg … so I have a great warm spot for your country.”
Mr Trump, who had greeted the PM outside the West Wing, accepted the invitation of an “unprecedented” second state visit to the UK from the King as the pair hit it off in the Oval Office.
He also gave a hint that Britain - which he described as America’s “No1 ally” - could be spared tariffs as the US goes on the attack over what it claims are unfair trade arrangements with the rest of the world.
Highlighting Brexit after he accused the EU of “screwing” America, the president said relations with the UK were “different” and “warm”.
But he is likely to provoke some fury after saying he is “inclined to go along with” the UK’s Chagos Islands deal., described by critics as a “surrender”.
At the beginning of their head-to-head meeting in the historical Presidential Office Mr Trump said: “It's a great honour to have Prime Minister Starmer at the Oval Office.
“It's a very special place and he's a special man – and the United Kingdom is a wonderful country that I know very well, I'm there a lot.
“I'll be going there and we expect to see each other in the near future – we'll be announcing it.”
After being presented the letter from the King inviting him for a state visit, the US President said: “The answer is yes.
“On behalf of our wonderful First Lady Melania and myself, the answer is yes and we look forward to being there and honouring the King and honouring really your country.
“Your country is a fantastic country and it'll be our honour to be there.
“Thank you very much.”
Sir Keir responded: “Well thank you very much Mr President. I shall happily take that back to His Majesty.”
Mr Trump, whose mother was born in Scotland, was also hosted by the late Queen on a state visit during his first term in office in 2019.
But precedent for second-term US presidents who have already made a state visit is usually tea or lunch with the monarch at Windsor Castle, as was the case for George W Bush and Barack Obama.
Mr Trump showed the letter marked “private and confidential” and featuring Charles’s signature to the cameras gathered in the White House.
The King suggested that he and Mr Trump could meet before that visit, either at Dumfries House or Balmoral which are near the businessman’s golf courses in Scotland, to discuss the plans for the much grander state visit.
The letter, partially obscured by Mr Trump’s hand, reads: “I can only say that it would be … pleasure to extend that invitation once again, in the hope that you … some stage be visiting Turnberry and a detour to a relatively near neighbour might not cause you too much inconvenience. An alternative might perhaps be for you to visit Balmoral…
“There is much on both estates which I think you might find interesting, and enjoy – particularly as my foundation at Dumfries House provides hospitality skills training for young people who often end up as staff on your own establishments!”
On Brexit, Mr Trump said: “I think we have just a great relationship… Frankly what they did was the right thing at the time and probably prove out over the centuries, you have a long time to go.
“I predicted it would happen and it did happen.
“It will work itself out, I think it’s already worked itself out.”
Mr Trump did not rule out tariffs on the UK but said he had a “warm spot” for the country and would have a “good discussion” about it with Britain.
“We’re talking about a very different place” to the EU, he said. “I have investments, I own Turnberry, I own Aberdeen, I own a great place called Doonbeg … so I have a great warm spot for your country.”
Their high-stakes meeting in the US capital comes amid uncertainty over the future of Ukraine and what guarantees the US could give to maintain a peace deal.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky is expected at the White House on Friday to sign a deal that will give the US access to Ukraine’s rare earth mineral resources, which Mr Trump has now described as a “backstop”.
And Mr Trump said that he did not think Vladimir Putin would be at risk of invading Ukraine again in the event a peace deal is secured.
Reminded of his comment about Mr Zelensky being a 'dictator', Mr Trump said: 'Did I say that? I can't believe I said that. Next question, please go ahead.'
The US President said he was able to “get along with both” Mr Zelensky and Russia's Vladimir Putin.
He added: “I have a very good relationship with President Putin. I think I have a very good relationship with President Zelensky.”
Mr Trump said he would “always be with the British” if they needed help. “You know, I've always found about the British – they don't need much help,” he said.
“They can take care of themselves very well.
“But if they need help, I'll always be with the British, OK? I'll always be with them – but they don't need help.”
On the deal to hand the British territory of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, and pay to lease back the UK-US Diego Garcia military base - which has been causing increasing alarm in the UK - Mr Trump seemed ready to support it.
“We're going to have some discussions about that very soon and I have a feeling it's going to work out very well,” he said.
“They're talking about a very long-term, powerful lease, a very strong lease, about 140 years, actually. It's a long time.
“I think we'll be inclined to go along with your country.”
Challenged if the UK would jeopardise its relationship with the US by seeking closer ties with the EU, Mr Trump said: “No, I don't worry about that.”
In one flicker of tensions, vice president JD Vance swiped at “infringements on free speech” in the UK while answering a question.
Sir Keir shot back: “We have had free speech for a very long time in the UK. I'm very proud of that.”
The PM's whirlwind visit to Washington DC is part of a frantic European effort to persuade Mr Trump not to abandon Ukraine and European allies.
The diplomatic push began with Emmanuel Macron's visit to the White House on Monday and will continue when Volodymyr Zelensky arrives in Washington on Friday to discuss what security guarantees the US is prepared to offer in return for a share of Ukraine's valuable rare minerals.
All three leaders are expected to review progress at an emergency summit on European security in London on Sunday.
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