Donald Trump said the UK’s exit from the European Union was “on the sloppy side”.

But the US president said Brexit was now “getting straightened out” before going on to praise Sir Keir Starmer in an interview with the BBC over the phone from the Oval Office.

Mr Trump backed the Leave campaign during the European Union referendum in 2016, saying the UK would be “better off without” the EU.

Asked by the BBC if he believed the UK had made the most of Brexit, Mr Trump replied: “No, I think it has been on the sloppy side, but I think it is getting straightened out.”

The president also spoke about his relationship with Britain and Sir Keir Starmer.

He said it was a “great place - you know I own property there” and praised Sir Keir, saying: “I really like the Prime Minister a lot, even though he’s a liberal.

“He did a good trade deal with us, which a lot of other countries didn’t do.”

‘King Charles is a great gentleman’

In September, the president will make an unprecedented second state visit to the UK, where he will be hosted by the King at Windsor Castle.

However, Mr Trump will not address MPs – a courtesy afforded to Emmanuel Macron as well as some of Mr Trump’s predecessors, including Barack Obama – because the Commons will not be sitting at the time of his visit.

In the interview with Gary O’Donoghue, the BBC’s chief North America correspondent, Mr Trump brushed away calls made by ally Nigel Farage to recall Parliament so he can speak to MPs. “Let them go and have a good time. I don’t want that,” he said.

Mr Trump will be accompanied by his wife, first lady Melania Trump, for the trip, which is set to take place from Sept 17 to 19, and will be hosted at Windsor Castle.

He said: “I want to have a good time and respect King Charles because he’s a great gentleman.”