Trump, Boris Johnson discuss Brexit, trade issues in Monday phone call

President Trump spoke with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday about a range of trade and economic issues, according to the White House.

Trump expressed “great enthusiasm” for his upcoming meeting with Johnson during the phone call, which occurred days before the leaders are set to attend the annual Group of Seven summit being held in France. They also discussed the United Kingdom’s decision to leave the European Union, with Trump calling it a “great discussion” on Twitter.

Great discussion with Prime Minister @BorisJohnson today. We talked about Brexit and how we can move rapidly on a US-UK free trade deal. I look forward to meeting with Boris this weekend, at the @G7, in France!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 19, 2019

“Prime Minister Johnson also provided the President with an update on Brexit. The President expressed great enthusiasm for his upcoming meeting with the Prime Minister at the G7 Summit in Biarritz, France,” the White House said.

{mosads}Trump and Johnson have spoken multiple times since Johnson took over as prime minister in late July, replacing Theresa May. The two leaders spoke by phone just last week about trade and other global issues.

Trump has said he is working with Johnson to broker a bilateral trade agreement between the United States and the U.K. Such an agreement would depend on whether the U.K. follows through with plans to leave the European Union.

Trump has offered complimentary remarks of Johnson, calling him a friend last month and predicting they would have a “great relationship.”

Johnson has said he plans to follow through on the 2016 vote to leave the European Union by Oct. 31 with or without a divorce plan to smooth the transition.

Meanwhile, the British government has faced scrutiny for the Brexit plans over the last 24 hours after a leaked internal government report described debilitating effects — such as shortages of food and fuel — of a no-deal Brexit.

—Updated at 7:58 p.m.