Commons Speaker John Bercow has been caught up in controversy after saying Donald Trump should not be allowed to address Parliament during his state visit.
Mr Bercow's attack in the House was applauded by MPs who oppose the US President, but critics have hit out at his intervention.
Conservative MP James Duddridge told Sky News it was "most bizarre", adding: "It is wholly inappropriate for the Speaker of the House to enter the fray on this issue."
Communities Secretary Sajid Javid told Sky News Mr Bercow "likes to speak his mind", but stressed he "doesn't speak for the Government".
Asked for the Prime Minister's reaction to the comments, her spokesman said: "What John Bercow suggests to Parliament is a matter for Parliament.
"What I will set out is our position which is we've extended this invitation to the president and we look forward to receiving him later this year."
When asked if Theresa May agreed with Mr Bercow's characterisation of Mr Trump as a racist and a sexist, the spokesman said: "In terms of these issues on comments that the president has made in the past, I think the PM herself has addressed that and I can point you to the words that she has used in the past."
Addressing MPs on Monday, Mr Bercow cited Mr Trump's controversial travel ban as one of the reasons for his opposition to inviting the President to Westminster.
Chairman of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee Crispin Blunt said it was the Speaker's duty to remain neutral.
He said: "He has no idea whether he will be speaking for a majority of the House of Commons, and this is why speakers do not express their opinion.
"That's the entire point, otherwise they can't remain neutral and above the political fray."
Iraqi-born Tory MP Nadhim Zahawi, who criticised Mr Trump's travel ban after learning he could be caught up in it, told the BBC the Speaker should "think about" his position and explain his remarks.
Former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg told Sky's All Out Politics he could understand why Mr Bercow had "reacted to this pressure from the Government" with his "unconventional" statement.
The Liberal Democrat's Europe spokesman claimed Mrs May was "pushing" for a state visit in a "premature, rushed and demeaning way", and warned the PM to be "much more cautious and tentative".
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was among those to back Mr Bercow, writing on Twitter: "Well said John Bercow. We must stand up for our country's values. Trump's state visit should not go ahead."
Mr Javid made reference to the controversy in the Commons later, quipping he had hoped his housing White Paper would be dominating the headlines, "but it seems someone else has beaten me to it".
Mr Bercow responded: "Let me just gently say to the Rt Hon Gentleman I did make my statement to the House first."
Only a select few world statesmen and women have been granted the honour of addressing the Commons and the Lords in Westminster Hall.
Presidents Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton spoke in the Royal Gallery, a room in Parliament often used for state receptions, while other leaders have had to address Parliament from the Queen's Robing Room in the Lords.
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