Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email
Boris Johnson “thought it was over” when he was hospitalised with coronavirus , US president Donald Trump has said.
Trump said that the prime minister confided in him about his experience with the potentially fatal virus in a phone call on 21 April, a week after he left intensive care at St Thomas’ Hospital in London.
The president’s comments come after Mr Johnson insisted in an interview with The Sun that he “never really thought that I wouldn’t come back”.
The prime minister said that thoughts of the impending birth of his son Wilfred - who arrived last Wednesday just 17 days after his father’s discharge from hospital - gave him an added drive to shake off the illness.
Asked if he feared at any point that he might not live to see his new child, the PM replied: "Well, yes, of course. We've all got a lot to live for, a lot to do, and I won't hide it from you, I was thinking about that, yes."
Show all 30 1 /30Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Staff react outside Salford Royal Hospital in Manchester during a minute's silence to pay tribute to the NHS staff and key workers who have died during the coronavirus outbreak
PA
Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Staff inside Camberwell bus depot in London, during a minute's silence
PA
Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus NHS staff at the Mater hospital in Belfast, during a minute's silence to pay tribute to the NHS staff and key workers who have died during the coronavirus outbreak.
PA
Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Shoppers observe a minute's silence in Tescos in Shoreham
Getty
Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Firefighters outside Godstone fire station
PA
Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Salford Royal Hospital
Getty
Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Salford Royal Hospital
PA
Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Hospital workers take part in a protest calling on the British government to provide PPE across Britain for all workers in care, the NHS and other vital public services after a nationwide minute's silence at University College Hospital in London
AP
Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus A school children's poster hanging outside Glenfield Hospital during a minute's silence
Getty
Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus A man holds a placard that reads "People's health before profit" outside St Thomas hospital
Getty
Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Staff members applaud outside the Royal Derby Hospital, following a minute's silence
PA
Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Cabinet Secretary Mark Sedwill, Prime minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak, stand inside 10 Downing Street, London, to observe a minutes silence in tribute to the NHS staff and key workers who have died during the coronavirus outbreak
PA
Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus University College Hospital, London Hospital workers hold placards with the names of their colleagues who have died from coronavirus as they take part in a protest calling on the British government to provide PPE
AP
Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Staff at Waterloo Station in London, stand to observe a minute's silence, to pay tribute to NHS and key workers who have died with coronavirus
AP
Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Medical staff at the Louisa Jordan hospital stand during a UK wide minutes silence to commemorate the key workers who have died with coronavirus in Glasgow
Getty
Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus London An NHS worker observes a minute's silence at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital
Reuters
Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London
AFP via Getty
Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Belfast, Northern Ireland NHS staff observe a minutes silence at Mater Infirmorum Hospital
Reuters
Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Plymouth NHS workers hold a minute's silence outside the main entrance of Derriford Hospital
Getty
Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus NHS Frimley Park Hospital staff at the A&E department observe a minute's silence
Getty
Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Mater Infirmorum Hospital People applaud after a minutes silence in honour of key workers
Reuters
Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Waterloo Station, London
AP
Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Wreaths laid outside Sheffield town hall
PA
Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus A group of trade unionists and supporters standing outside Sheffield town hall
PA
Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus First Minister Nicola Sturgeon stands outside St Andrew's House in Edinburgh to observe a minute's silence in tribute to the NHS staff and key workers who have died during the coronavirus outbreak
PA
Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Staff stand outside the Royal Derby Hospital, during a minutes silence
PA
Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus London Police officers observe a minutes silence at Guy's Hospital
Reuters
Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus A woman standing outside Sheffield town hall
PA
Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Royal Derby Hospital
PA
Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Leicester, NHS workers during a minute's silence outside Glenfield Hospital
Getty
But he added: “I suppose there was some terrible, as I say, some natural buoyancy or refusal to give in or harbour negative thoughts. I never really thought that I wouldn't come back from it. It was more frustration."
Speaking to Fox News at a “virtual town hall” at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, Mr Trump said: “I spoke the other day to the prime minister of United Kingdom, Boris.
“He was a victim of what happened. He thought it was over.
“He thought it was over, it was vicious, and he made it.
“He’s a great guy and he made it, but he has first-hand experience - the ultimate first-hand experience.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies