8 Things To Know From Donald Trump, Theresa May Joint Press Conference (VIDEO)

President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May held a joint press conference on Friday, discussing a wide range of topics from the relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom and their commitment to NATO, to defeating the Islamic State and establishing trade deals between the two countries. The press conference was a first for Trump as president as well as his first press conference with a foreign leader.

Take a look at the five big takeaways from the press conference where the two leaders took some questions from the press:

Trump, May Reaffirm Commitment to NATO

In the past, Trump has called the North Atlantic Alliance "obsolete," but on Friday May said the two were committed to the alliance and, while looking at Trump, she stated that he said he was "100 percent behind the alliance." Trump said something inaudible but seemed to acknowledge the statement. May said she has agreed to encourage European leaders to deliver on their commitments to spend 2 percent of their GDP on defense so that the burden is more fairly shared.

"It's only by investing properly in our defense that we can ensure we're properly equipped to face our shared challenges together," May said.

Future Economic Cooperation

May said the two leaders were ambitious to build on the existing relationship between the two countries on trade and defense to grow the two economies and provide high-skilled and high-paid jobs of the future for working people across America and the U.K. In his opening statement, Trump said he was looking forward to working closely with the U.K. on business, commerce and foreign affairs.

Lifting Sanctions on Russia?

Presidential counselor Kellyanne Conway has said in the past that Trump might be considering lifting sanctions on Russia imposed by Barack Obama for the country's alleged role in the election-related hacking during the presidential election. Trump is expected to speak with Russian President Vladmir Putin by phone on Saturday. When asked if he was considering lifting sanctions, he said it was too early to talk about that.

Trump said he doesn't know Putin and hopes that the two countries have a good relationship but that "it's also possible we don't."

On Torture

Trump said he does not necessarily agree with his Secretary of Defense Gen. James Mattis' view that torture does not work, but Mattis overrides him on the issue because Trump is giving him that power.

Trump was also asked about his past statements on issues of abortion, Russia and banning Muslims from the country, something that a reporter at the conference said alarmed many Britons and asked what Trump would say to them. Trump did not address the topics.

Defeating the Islamic State

May said the two countries were committed to defeating Daesh, or the Islamic State, and while they have made ground on the fight, she said the efforts need to be redoubled, acknowledging that the terrorist group could not be defeated until the dangerous ideology behind it is.

Phone Call with Mexican President

Trump spoke with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto by phone on Friday. Peña Nieto reportedly cancelled a visit to the White House set up for next week after Trump issued an executive order to "build the wall" on the U.S.-Mexico border. Trump said the call was a "very, very friendly call" and that he was a big fan of the country and the Mexican people but that Mexico had out-negotiated the U.S. and made it look foolish. On top of that, Trump said the border was weak and drugs were pouring in, something he was not going to let happen.

He said he would be working on a fair and new relationship and was convinced it would be very good for both the U.S. and Mexico.

State Visit to the U.K.

By invitation of Her Majesty the Queen, May said she was delighted that Trump and First Lady Melania Trump had accepted an invitation for an official state visit to the U.K. later this year.

How Can the British PM believe you?

The final question of the press conference came from a reporter who asked Trump how May could believe him on a Brexit trade deal and his support for NATO because he has been known to change his position in the past.

In a second part of the question, the reporter asked if the two had found any common ground since the two were so different.

"The hard-working daughter of a vicar, the brash TV extrovert, have you found anything in common personally yet?" he asked.

Trump joked that he wasn't as brash as one may think. He said he believed that the two would get along very well. May nodded in agreement.

"I am a people person, I think you are also Theresa, and I can often tell how I get along with somebody very early, and I believe we are going to have a fantastic relationship," Trump said.

Original Post:

Update 1:25 p.m.: President Donald Trump and U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May made opening statements stressing the importance of the "special relationship" between the U.S. and the U.K. Trump said a free and independent Britain is a "blessing to the world" and said he looked forward to working closely with the U.K. on issues of business, commerce and foreign affairs.

May thanked Trump for inviting her to the U.S. so soon and congratulated him on his "stunning election victory." Speaking of NATO, an organization Trump has scorned in the past, May said they had reaffirmed their commitment to the alliance and Trump had told her that he is 100 percent behind it. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump have also accepted an invitation from Queen Elizabeth to pay a state visit to the U.K. later this year.

Update 1 p.m.: Media are beginning to take their seats, awaiting the joint press conference between President Donald Trump and U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May. The press conference is the first for Trump as president and his first with a foreign leader.

British Prime Minister Theresa May will meet President Donald Trump at the White House on Friday, marking the first visit by a foreign leader for the new administration.

On Thursday, May delivered a speech to the Republican "Congress of Tomorrow" conference taking place in Philadelphia. During her speech, May emphasized the importance of U.S.-U.K. relations and praised Trump's victory, saying it was achieved in defiance of "pundits and polls." She reminded the audience that she was speaking to them not just as Prime Minister of the UK but as a fellow conservative who among other things, believed in putting power in the hands of the people.

She took a different tune than Trump when speaking of international institutions like NATO and the IMF, saying the two were born by "our two nations working together."

"Some of these organizations are in need of reform and renewal to make them relevant to our needs today," she said. "But we should be proud of the role our two nations – working in partnership – played in bringing them into being, and in bringing peace and prosperity to billions of people as a result."

On Friday, May's agenda began with a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider in Arlington.

Trump and May are expected to discuss a possible free trade agreement between the two countries on Friday. May became prime minister of the U.K. shortly after the country voted to leave the European Union, something that like the election of Trump, had been written off by polls. During his campaign, Trump campaigned on the promise of taking back the country like Britain had done with the Brexit vote.

Watch a video of the joint press conference via the White House:

Image Credit: U.K. Prime Minister's Office