British Prime Minister Theresa May has held talks at the White House with US President Donald Trump, the first foreign leader to do so.
The two leaders spent about an hour in face-to-face talks in the Oval Office before a joint press conference at which Mr Trump said he believed that Brexit would be "a fantastic thing for the UK".
He said: "I think when it irons out, you're going to have your own identity, and you are going to have the people that you want in your country.
"You're going to be able to make free trade deals without having somebody watching you and what you are doing."
Mr Trump also hailed the "special relationship" between Britain and the United States.
He said: "The special relationship between our two countries has been one of the great forces in history for justice and for peace.
"Today the United States renews our deep bond with Britain - military, financial, culture and political. We pledge our lasting support to this most special relationship."
Mrs May said she had extended an invitation from Queen Elizabeth for the president to make a state visit to the UK later this year, which Mr Trump had accepted.
Both leaders said they would work to strengthen US and British commercial ties, with Mrs May hoping that a swift trade deal with Washington will mitigate the effects of Brexit.
The United Kingdom's Prime Minister @theresa_may becomes the first head of government to sign the White House book under @POTUS Trump pic.twitter.com/Q0PjQeTwJL
— Sean Spicer (@PressSec) January 27, 2017
The president was challenged about his support for torture and insisted that he would allow decisions to be made by his defence secretary James Mattis - who has different views on the issue.
"I happen to feel torture does work" says @realDonaldTrump, saying he doesn't necessarily agree with his Def Sec at presser with PM May. pic.twitter.com/ivosR5L3M7
— Caitriona Perry (@CaitrionaPerry) January 27, 2017
After being questioned about his views on torture, Russia, banning Muslims and punishment for abortion by BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg, Mr Trump joked to Mrs May: "This was your choice of a question. There goes that relationship."
Mrs May said: "I have been listening to the president and the president has been listening to me. That's the point of having a conversation and a dialogue."
She added: "There will be times when we disagree and issues on which we disagree. The point of the special relationship is that we are able to have that open and frank discussion so we are able to make that clear when it happens.
"But I am clear also that there are many issues on which the UK and the US stand alongside one another, many issues on which we agree."
She said an "even stronger special relationship" would be in the interests of the wider world.
Trump says Mexico has out-negotiated the US in the past but he will not let that happen. pic.twitter.com/RqSlKfymnk
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) January 27, 2017
Mr Trump played down speculation that he is about to lift sanctions on Russia, while Mrs May said they should continue.
Asked by reporters whether he was planning to release Russia from sanctions imposed over its intervention in Ukraine, Mr Trump said: "It's very early to be talking about that."
Mrs May said Britain believes sanctions should continue until Russia upholds its end of the international Minsk Agreement drawn up to end the conflict.
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Trump to hold calls with Putin, Merkel and Hollande
A White House spokesperson said earlier that Mr Trump will hold calls with the leaders of Russia, Germany and France tomorrow.
White House spokesman Sean Spicer said on Twitter: "Getting the most out of the 1st full week - tomorrow @POTUS will speak by phone with leaders of France, Germany and Russia."
Getting the most out of the 1st full week- tomorrow @potus will speak by phone with leaders of France, Germany and Russia
— Sean Spicer (@PressSec) January 27, 2017
The Kremlin has said that Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to use the call to congratulate Mr Trump on taking office and to exchange views on the current state of bilateral ties.
Asked if they would discuss Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it was unlikely they would have substantive discussions on the entire range of issues facing their countries, as it was their first contact since Mr Trump's inauguration.
Asked about media reports that Mr Trump was preparing to lift or soften sanctions imposed on Russia over the conflict in Ukraine, Mr Peskov said: "I know nothing about that."
US Senator John McCain said he hoped the Trump administration would reject that "reckless course", when asked about speculation over Russian sanctions.
"If he does not, I will work with my colleagues to codify sanctions against Russia into law," Mr McCain, one of the Republican party's senior foreign policy voices, said.
May visits Arlington Cemetery
Earlier, Mrs May laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery in Virginia.
A cannon was fired 19 times as her convoy arrived at the cemetery and made its way to the memorial.
Mrs May also laid a wreath at the grave of Sir John Dill, the Field Marshal sent to Washington as Churchill's personal representative during WWII.
She began her visit to the US by addressing the Republican Party's congressional retreat in Philadelphia.
There, focusing on a post-Brexit foreign policy, she urged Britain and the US to stand united and lead the world together, confronting new challenges such as a resurgent Russia, rising Asian economies and the so-called Islamic State.
She is in the US as Mr Trump is in the midst of a diplomatic crisis with Mexico over his plans to try to force Mexico to pay for his border wall.Meanwhile,
Mr Trump is also expected to sign an executive order to temporarily halt refugees from some Muslim countries.
A White House official said the president will also sign executive orders on military readiness and on national security during a visit to the Pentagon.
Trump administration poses 'challenges' for Europe
French President Francois Hollande has said that Mr Trump's administration poses "challenges" for Europe.
"Let's speak very frankly, there are challenges, there are the challenges the US administration poses to our trade rules, as well as to our ability to resolve conflicts around the world," Mr Hollande said in Berlin.
"So we of course have to talk to Donald Trump since he was chosen by the Americans to be their president," he said at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
"But we also have to do so with a European conviction and the promotion of our interests and our values."
Ms Merkel, without mentioning Mr Trump by name, said: "We see that global conditions are changing dramatically and quickly."
"And we must respond to these new challenges, both in terms of defending a free society and defending free trade, as well as in terms of the economic challenges."
Trump probe to include review of voting rules
The Trump administration's investigation into what the president has claimed is widespread voting fraud will likely include a "full evaluation of voting rules," Vice President Mike Pence told fellow Republicans this week, the Washington Post reported.
In video obtained by the Post, Mr Pence told congressional Republicans in a private meeting that he expects "that the administration is going to initiate a full evaluation of voting rules in the country, the overall integrity of our voting system in the wake of this past election."
Mr Trump also repeated his assertions of voter fraud in another tweet this morning.
Look forward to seeing final results of VoteStand. Gregg Phillips and crew say at least 3,000,000 votes were illegal. We must do better!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 27, 2017
Pence tells pro-life rally it is 'historic time' for movement
US Vice President Mike Pence told an annual pro-life rally in Washington that it was a "historic moment" for the movement.
"Life is winning again in America," said Mr Pence, the first vice president to speak at the March for Life gathering.
"That is evident in the election of pro-life majorities in the Congress of the United States of America."
"We've come to a historic moment in the cause of life, and we must meet this moment with respect and compassion for every American," he said to a crowd of thousands gathered on the National Mall.
Mr Pence, a former governor of Indiana, is a staunch conservative defender of traditional family values with strong anti-abortion views.
