Trump said that Boris Johnson would be an 'excellent prime minister' but called Meghan Markle 'nasty'

Ahead of his visit to the UK next week, Donald Trump has spoken to The Sun and said that Boris Johnson would be an 'excellent' prime minister

Although Theresa May will still be acting as prime minister during his visit, Trump has given Johnson the thumbs up telling the tabloid newspaper that the Tory MP would do a "very good job" in Number 10.

It’s something that I find very interesting. I actually have studied it very hard. I know the different players. But I think Boris would do a very good job. I think he would be excellent.

I like him. I have always liked him. I don’t know that he is going to be chosen, but I think he is a very good guy, a very talented person. He has been very positive about me and our country.

Johnson and Trump haven't always seen eye-to-eye, but there is no doubt that the former foreign secretary will welcome these words from the president in what has been an otherwise tumultuous week for the 54-year-old.

Although Trump has stopped short of fully endorsing Johnson, reaction to Trump's statement and interest in the Tory leadership race hasn't been warmly received online.

There's also this quote from Johnson which he might want to bury as quickly as he can.

Elsewhere in the interview, Trump claimed that despite protests staged during his last visit, and further protests scheduled to take place this time, he believes he is loved in the UK.

Now I think I am really — I hope — I am really loved in the UK. I certainly love the UK.

He also reignited his feud with the Royal Family, calling Meghan Markle 'nasty' after she had branded him "divisive" and a "misogynist" during the 2016 presidential election, where she had supported Hillary Clinton.

Trump, seemingly unaware of these statements said:

I didn’t know that. What can I say? I didn’t know that she was nasty.

Needless to say, the internet appears to be on the Duchess of Sussex's side:

This is bound to make things awkward when Trump meets Prince Harry, along with Prince William and Kate Middleton, for a private lunch next week.

Markle will not be at the lunch as she will still be on maternity leave having only given birth to her first child just a matter of weeks ago.

More: 11 of the funniest reactions to Boris Johnson's Tory leadership bid announcement