US President Donald Trump would like to see the United Kingdom remain engaged with Europe following Brexit, the White House said Wednesday after the British government formally notified the European Union that it was starting the process of withdrawal from the bloc.

“Whatever the future EU-UK relationship looks like, we want the UK to remain a strong leader in Europe,” spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters at the White House daily briefing.

Spicer was replying to a question about comments last week by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker suggesting that Trump knows little about Europe.

“I think the president is very well steeped in world affairs, especially Europe, NATO, all of the issues. He was a leader in the effort to call Brexit,” the White House press secretary said.

The British electorate voted by a margin of 52 percent to 48 percent to leave the EU in a landmark referendum on June 23, 2016.

Trump expressed support for the idea of Brexit during his 2016 presidential campaign and warmly praised the UK’s decision to leave when British Prime Minister Theresa May visited the White House a week after his inauguration.

Juncker complained last week about the US president’s enthusiasm for Brexit and his public speculation that others among the 27 remaining EU member-states would follow London’s example and leave the bloc. EFE