Trump claims Boris Johnson asked him to arrange surprise meeting between Harry Dunn’s parents and woman accused over his death

Donald Trump has said Boris Johnson asked him to arrange a meeting between Harry Dunn’s parents and Anne Sacoolas.

Dunn was killed in a car crash outside RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire on 27 August.

Ms Sacoolas is suspected of causing the 19-year-old’s death. The diplomat’s wife left the UK following the crash.

Charlotte Charles and Tim Dunn, the teenager’s parents, turned down an invitation to speak with the diplomat’s wife during Tuesday’s Oval Office meeting.

“My meeting with the family was really..it was beautiful in a certain way” the US president said on Wednesday.

“They did not want to meet with the person in question.

 ”The meeting took place right [in the Oval Office]…at about six o’clock last night.

“It was very sad, to be honest. They lost their son. I believe [the suspect] was going down the wrong way.

“Because that happens in Europe. You go to Europe and the roads are opposite.

“And it’s very tough..if you’re from the US, you do make that decision to make a right turn where you’re supposed to make a left turn [and] the roads are opposite.

“And [the suspect] said that’s what happened. That happens to a lot of people, by the way.

“[Ms Sacoolas] was in the room right out there. [The parents and I] met right here.”

The president added: “And I offered to bring the person in question in and [the parents] weren’t ready for it. But I did offer.”

“I spoke with Boris, he asked me if I’d do that and I did it,” he said.

“They wanted to meet with her and unfortunately, when we had everybody together, they decided not to meet.

“Perhaps, they had lawyers involved by that time – I don’t know exactly.”

Mr Trump described Dunn’s parents as “lovely” and “desperately sad”.

His remarks come after Ms Charles and Mr Dunn said they were “ambushed” by the president.

The couple were reportedly unaware that Ms Sacoolas was in the White House at the beginning of the meeting.

“I thought we were coming down to have a debate on the diplomatic immunity law. It soon became clear to us that the real reason for inviting us down was to try and get Charlotte and Mrs Sacoolas in a room together,” Radd Seiger, the couple’s lawyer, told BBC Breakfast on Wednesday.

He added: “It was quite an extraordinary meeting. After the pleasantries and greetings, and of course quite sincere and warm condolences, he got down to business and said he had Mrs Sacoolas in the next room.

“I nearly had a heart attack, because I thought he was just going to bring her in. That’s when I quite forcefully said no, that’s not happening Mr President, these good people are not ready.”

Mr Seiger said the White House had invited at least three photographers to the meeting and appeared “ready to do a press call”.

“I think the family feel a little ambushed to say the least and disappointed they made the effort to go all the way down there and all the way back up with really no further progress towards achieving the closure they’re so desperately seeking,” he said.

US national security adviser Robert O’Brien, who was present for the talks with Mr Trump, told the couple “quite emphatically” that Ms Sacoolas “is never coming back” to the UK, the lawyer added.

“The prime minister and president spoke last Wednesday,” a Downing Street spokesperson said.

“The prime minister asked the president to do all he could to help resolve this tragic issue. The president agreed to work on trying to find a way forward.”

The Independent understands that Mr Trump raised the possibility of arranging a White House meeting with Ms Sacoolas during the exchange.

At that point Downing Street was unaware the Dunn family planned to travel to the US and meet with Mr Trump.