UK Prime Minister Theresa May to meet with US President Donald Trump

Theresa May is meeting with Donald Trump in the White House tomorrow. Photos / AP

Theresa May, UK Prime Minister, is set to meet Donald Trump for the first time today in Philadelphia as she sets out to forge the future of the special relationship.

The Prime Minister is set to use her visit to the United States to tell Trump that Britain and America can lead the world together with a "renewed" bond after Brexit.

May has come under pressure to challenge Trump after he said waterboarding of terror suspects "absolutely works".

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said the UK's "principled position" on the issue was unchanged, while Brexit Secretary David Davis stressed the British Government does not agree with torture "under any circumstances whatsoever".

Addressing Republican congressmen, and Trump, in Philadelphia, May will say changes in both the UK and US are renewing the long-time allies in ways which will allow them to "rediscover our confidence together" and "lead together again" in the world.

Tomorrow she will meet with Trump in the Oval Office and focus on priorities such as a post-Brexit trade deal and co-operation on security issues like Syria, counter-terrorism and Russia.

May is expected to stress the value of international institutions like Nato, after Trump declared the military alliance "obsolete" on the campaign trail.

Downing Street also hopes it will allow May to get to know Trump and establish a "strong and productive working relationship" with the new president.

May told reporters on the flight to the United States that she and Donald Trump will form a close bond because "opposites attract".

She rejected any claims that there could be a "potential character clash" between her and Trump and made clear she is looking forward to speaking to him "face-to-face" about the issues facing Britain and America.

It follows a backlash from MPs who have accused her of "cosying" up to Trump despite his controversial comments.

In Washington. a raft of foreign service officials resigned from the US State Department indicating they did not want to serve in a Trump administration.