President Obama, who had urged British voters not to turn their backs on the European Union, said Friday that the USA would “respect their decision” to do so and that the “special relationship” across the Atlantic would continue.
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For the first 7½ years of his presidency, Barack Obama could rely on the United Kingdom to back him up at almost every turn, knowing British leaders had both the global clout and shared perspective to be powerful USA partners. The president said the result of the referendum shows the “challenges” facing society today, but insisted that the United States “will not change” its economic and security relations with either Britain or the EU.
“Maybe some point down the line there might be a UK-US trade agreement, but it’s not going to happen any time soon”, Obama said.
As stock markets tumbled, Obama offered words of calm and continuity, saying the shocking vote would disrupt neither the storied bond between the US and the United Kingdom nor American support for the European alliance.
“I’m confident that the United Kingdom is committed to an orderly transition out of the European Union“, said Obama.
US presidential candidate Donald Trump on Friday thrust himself into the heart of the Brexit issue, calling the result of the vote a “great thing” and drawing parallels to his own insurgent campaign.
While in London, Obama said that Europe in the 21st century “looks an terrible lot better” than in the 20th century, and “I think a majority of Europeans recognize that”.
“This is something the British voters have to decide but as part our special relationship, part of being friends is to be honest”, he said, adding that the outcome of the referendum is “of deep interest” to the United States “because it affects our prospects as well”.
On Friday, Vice President Joe Biden, who was attending a medal ceremony at Trinity College in Dublin, also attempted to reassure Ireland and the European Union about the stability of their relationships with the U.S.
The White House statement came while Obama was in San Francisco the evening before he was to address aspiring entrepreneurs at Stanford University.
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House Speaker Paul Ryan said the vote was “all the more reason for America to lead”.
