Laura Kuenssberg's stern questioning of Donald Trump angers president's supporters

BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg has been praised and condemned on social media following her stern questioning of Donald Trump during the US president's joint press conference with Prime Minister Theresa May.

Invited to pose a question to both leaders, Ms Kuenssberg raised a number of issues that have caused consternation in the UK, saying: "Mr President, you've said before that torture works, you've praised Russia, you've said you want to ban some Muslims from coming to America, you've suggested there should be punishment for abortion.


Mr Trump pointed to Ms Kuenssberg and turned to Mrs May, saying: "This was your choice of a question?"

May and Trump take questions from the press Credit: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

He then leaned in to the microphone and joked: "There goes that relationship."

His response prompted laughter in the room - but some viewers criticised the BBC journalist's questioning as "rude": 

Many others tweeted their support for Ms Kuenssberg:

In further response to Ms Kuenssberg's question, Mr Trump repeated his belief that torture does work, but said he would leave the final decision to his defence secretary James Mattis.

On Russia he admitted he does not know the country's president Vladimir Putin well, but he expressed his hope for a "fantastic relationship" between the two nations.

Mr Trump said he could not predict how good a relationship he would have with other countries.

Smiling, he added: "Theresa, we never know about those things, do we?"

He finished by saying: "I will tell you one thing, I will be representing the American people very strongly."