"It marks a backtrack for the president who previously warned the UK would be at the "back of the queue" for a trade deal in the event of Brexit." Directly from the article. Easy to see if you were paying attention or read it.

The above quote is an opinion from the writer of the article.

 

Initially, I only read the part of the article you quoted, which did a poor job of proving your point.  After reading the article, I see nothing that refutes Obama's somewhat hyperbolic but very blunt assertion.  The article never quoted Obama as saying the U.K. will enjoy elite status as a trading partner.  Just that he respects the decision.  The author of the article inferred that statement as a "backtrack".  It's not.

 

It won't be a long queue, but that's where England and Wales will be amongst our vital trading partners.  Won't make them any lesser allies, it's just a logistical fact.  They will be a much smaller trading partner than the E.U., China, Japan, Russia, or even Brazil.  History is great and all, but I don't know if you noticed:  Americans are all about money and power, and England/Wales just knocked themselves way down the ladder in both categories.

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Vic would have called it a baby seal clubbing.

 

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“An empty vessel makes the loudest sound, so they that have the least wit are the greatest babblers.”. - Plato