Donald Trump deserves "respect", David Cameron has said. However the prime minister stood by his comment that the presumptive Republican presidential nominee was "divisive, stupid and wrong".
Yesterday, Trump effectively clinched his party's nomination after seeing off the last of his 16 rivals.
Speaking at a press conference in London today, Cameron said "knowing the gruelling nature of the primaries, what you have to go through to go on and represent your party in a general election – anyone who makes it through that deserves our respect".
Be he added: "What I said about Muslims, I wouldn’t change that view. I’m very clear that the policy idea that was put forward was wrong, it is wrong, and it will remain wrong."
George Papadopoulos, a foreign policy adviser to Tump, told The Times the prime minister should say sorry for his past criticisms.
A spokesperson for the prime minister had "no intention of withdrawing his comments".
In December last year, the prime minister slapped down Trump after the billionaire presidential candidate proposed a ban on Muslims from entering the United States.
It is highly unusual for a British prime minister to publicly attack a US presidential candidate.
Cameron told the Commons in December if Trump visited the United Kingdom the whole country would be united “against him”.
Speaking at a press conference in London alongside President Obama last month, Cameron said he did not want to “add to” or “subtract from” his past comments about Trump.
The Daily Telegraph reported today that Trump is expected to visit London in August.
