Boris Johnson praises Donald Trump as a 'great global brand' in supportive Fox News interview

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said President Trump was penetrating the "global consciousness" more than many previous presidents. Photo / AP

Boris Johnson has praised Donald Trump's tweeting and called him one of the "great global brands" in a supportive interview on American television.

The Foreign Secretary told Fox News - Trump's favourite cable network - that he was penetrating the "global consciousness" more than many previous presidents.

Johnson said that while some were frustrated with Trump's "rambunctious" tweeting, it was an effective method of communication.

The supportive intervention comes at a time when Trump has the approval of just one in three Americans and is dogged by party splits and an investigation into his campaign's Russia links.

It follows a deliberate attempt by the UK Government to get close to Trump early in his presidency in an attempt to influence his decision-making.

Theresa May became the first foreign leader to visit Trump after his inauguration in January, while Johnson publicly knocked back European critics of the US president around the same time.

Appearing during a trip to Washington DC on Fox & Friends, the breakfast show on Fox News, Johnson gave a positive account of Trump's record in office.

Johnson said: "You've got to realise that the American president is just one of the huge, great global brands, and he is penetrating corners of the global consciousness that I think few other presidents have ever done.

"His method of tweeting early in the morning, no matter how rambunctious those tweets may be, they are communicating with people. And yes, a lot of people don't like it but a lot of people relate to it."

The remarks come with Johnson facing controversy at home over comments about Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian woman serving a five-year jail term in Iran.

Johnson said Zaghari-Ratcliffe had been "simply teaching people journalism" when she was arrested - contradicting her own account of being on holiday.

The comment has been pounced on by Iranian figures as proof of what Zaghari-Ratcliffe was really doing in the country.

Discussing Johnson's political appeal, a Fox News presenter said during the interview: "Boris you were made for television - I like the way you turned in the middle, thought about things, you are just a great guest. Thanks so much for joining us."