Trump praises Britons for 'taking back their country'

Presumptive US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has hailed Britain's vote to leave the European Union (EU), saying Britons have retaken control of their country.

"I think it's a great thing. I think it's a fantastic thing - they took back control of their country, it’s great,” Trump said during a visit to one of his recreational resorts in Scotland on Friday, amid political crisis brewing up following the UK’s vote to leave the 28-member bloc.

"People are angry all over the world. They're angry over borders, they're angry over people coming into the country and taking over and nobody even knows who they are,” he added.

"They're angry about many, many things in the UK, the US and many other places. This will not be the last," Trump said.

The billionaire businessman also briefly expressed his view about the resignation of British Prime Minister David Cameron after the Leave vote, saying, "Well, that's too bad."

Cameron’s decision came after a majority of Britons voted on Thursday to leave the 28-member bloc after 43 years of membership, with some 52 percent of British voters opting to leave the EU and roughly 48 percent of people to stay in the union.

Earlier on Friday, Trump had posted his views in a series of tweets and messages on social media, noting that, “Self-determination is the sacred right of all free people, and the people of the UK have exercised that right for all the world to see.”

In a statement published on his Facebook page, the real estate mogul said, “The people of the United Kingdom have exercised the sacred right of all free people. They have declared their independence from the European Union, and have voted to reassert control over their own politics, borders and economy.”  

The presumptive Republican nominee also promised, if elected president, to strengthen ties with a “free and independent Britain”, saying, “The whole world is more peaceful and stable when our two countries – and our two peoples – are united together, as they will be under a Trump Administration.”

In his statement, Trump also pointed out to American voters casting their ballots for the 2016 presidential elections in November and the change they can create for the US future.  

"Come November, the American people will have the chance to re-declare their independence. Americans will have a chance to vote for trade, immigration and foreign policies that put our citizens first... I hope America is watching, it will soon be time to believe in America again," he noted.

Meanwhile, before Trump’s arrival in his Scotland resort, a group of protesters had gathered outside the place, holding up banners and placards reading "No To Racism".

Keir McKechnie, a spokesman for ‘Stand Up to Racism’ movement in Scotland, said, "His message of hate is one that we'll challenge and we would not encourage anyone to support him in his presidency,” adding that, “We want to represent people across the whole of the UK and beyond who reject Trump's racism and Islamophobia."

Trump, who has never held elected office, is leading the race despite the fact that his campaign has been marked by controversial statements, including with disparaging remarks about Mexican immigrants and Muslims.

He created a furor in the US and around the world by proposing a “total and complete shutdown of Muslims” entering the United States, following a mass shooting in California.

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