Donald Trump has said he wants to be "very involved" with the UK because "you don't hear the word Britain any more".

The US president made the comments after tweeting that a US-UK trade deal could be "very big & exciting".

The UK Government has said Brexit offers an "unprecedented opportunity" to reshape Britain's trading ambitions, although what that may mean for aspects such as food and agriculture has already proved controversial.

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Mr Trump declined to give any detail on how a post-Brexit transatlantic agreement agreement may look.

He added: "But I can say that we're going to be very involved with the UK. I mean, you don't hear the word Britain any more. It's very interesting. It's like, nope."

The president, who has Scottish ancestry, also expressed concern over a second Scottish independence referendum.

He said: "It would be terrible. They just went through hell."

The owner of luxury golf courses in Ayrshire and Aberdeenshire, Mr Trump appeared to be worried about the future of the British Open in the event that the Scottish nationalists won.

"What would they do with the British Open if they ever got out? They'd no longer have the British Open," he told the newspaper.

Former First Minister Alex Salmond said: “Donald Trump's opposition to independence should seal the deal for the SNP - and to do it on the basis of Scotland losing the ‘British Open’ golf is typical.

“The tournament is actually called The Open and the headquarters of the R&A is in St Andrews which, last time I checked, was in Scotland.

“The Grand Canyon is a minor crevice compared to the vast chasm of ignorance of that man. The President of the United States is a complete and utter nincompoop"

Mr Trump spoke to the WSJ on July 25, when he tweeted: "Working on major Trade Deal with the United Kingdom. Could be very big & exciting. JOBS! The E.U. is very protectionist with the U.S. STOP!"

His comments came as International Trade Secretary Liam Fox was in Washington for talks with US trade representative Robert Lighthizer.

The meeting came after critics raised fears that British markets could be opened up to US agricultural products currently blocked by EU food standards rules, including controversial chlorine-washed chicken.