US President Donald Trump has commended UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer for doing a “very good job” and hinted at a possible visit to the UK.
According to comments reported by the BBC, Trump expressed his approval of Starmer during a conversation with reporters aboard Air Force One.
Asked by the BBC on board Air Force One about his relationship with Sir Keir, Trump said, “I get along with him well. I like him a lot. He’s liberal, which is a little bit different from me, but I think he’s a very good person and I think he’s done a very good job thus far.”
The US president also noted that Starmer has “represented his country in terms of his philosophy.” While Trump admitted he does not share Starmer’s political views, he emphasised their positive relationship, saying, “I may not agree with his philosophy, but I have a very good relationship with him.”
The comments come as both leaders navigate significant issues, including trade agreements, military cooperation, and ongoing tensions with Russia. Trump revealed that his first international trip of his second term could take him to the UK, a traditional destination for US presidents, though he also mentioned Saudi Arabia as an alternative option.
The BBC reported that Starmer and Trump have previously met at Trump Tower in New York during Trump’s campaign and have held calls to discuss strengthening ties between their nations.
However, areas of contention remain, including the UK’s proposed deal to cede sovereignty over the Chagos Islands and the nomination of Lord Peter Mandelson as the British ambassador to Washington, which has drawn criticism from some in Trump’s circle.
Not really worth a comment is it🙄
Sure he’s talking about someone completely different.
I shall simply say…”Madness! … Madness!”
Trump gives insanity a bad name.
I’m not sure if it’s better when the Donald’s being nice to you instead of threatening to invade. Nice just seems weird.
I gel the same. This président of US gas impérialisme in mine. So… whatever he sais is potentialité a threat in the making.
I don’t think my country is willing to acceptable. Neither an invasion of another EU member, not constant threats.
We will see if US wants to be an allé or not. We are fine note ways.
If Starmer has any sense he will hold off making any announcements on Diego Garcia, he should keep it as a negotiation chip for any trade talks with Trump. The UK should aim for a simple no tariff deal and offer the Donald Diego Garcia and a Knight hood in return.
That might actually work! … throw in all the Caribbean territories and you might make a friend for life.
You think he want’s tge Caribbean Territories? If they join the USA then he might have to pay tax along with all the other billionaires stashing money there. 😀
I believe they have already done that by saying there will be no final deal without consultation with the new US administration..personally I would give a big FU to the African nations all lining up behind our enemies and give the whole territory to the US as a gift..with a level of concessions including a tasty trade deal…
The US needs a 2/3rds vote in the senate to incorporate a new territory so even if we offered it to them no chance they can take it, the current situation works out well for the USA, they can blame the British and keep the base rent free.
That would throw the Danes/Eurocrats under the bus big time.
UK: Hey Donald, here’s some real estate
Don: Amazing, How’s Greenland looking?
Denmark: Oh..
He will want to at least be a Prince and first in line to the throne. Being a King in name would certainly go well with acting like one (George lll in moments of lucidness could only dream of such power in reality). And Queen Melania would fit in seamlessly with the traditional intellect of the Royals.
Reminds me of a late Ugandan leader: His Excellency, President for Life, Field Marshal Al Hajj Doctor Idi Amin Dada, VC, DSO, MC, Lord of all the Beasts of the Earth and Fishes of the Sea and Conqueror of the British Empire in Africa in General and Uganda in Particular.
And King of Scotland 🙂
Donald and Melania as royals Sounds just like King Joffrey and Queen Cersei!
We don’t want a trade deal with the US. Any trade deal would involve allowing in low quality food and medicine and that would damage our trade with the EU, which is worth far more to the UK.
We just need to avoid the US putting in tarrifs against our goods as that would be damaging.
Plus trump operates a game of winners and losses rather than compromise or best for both parties. Any trade deal would involve the US winning and the UK losing. I don’t see how that is a positive.
Not on a zero tariff deal, we could do that without recognising food standards.
Zero tariff deals never really exist in isolation, they are linked to a large number of other agreements. I can’t see the US UK being the first such deal.
That a little optimistic given how Trump just dealt with Columbia to get a migrant repatriation deal. It was nothing but ruthless, 25% tariffs immediately moving to 50% in one week, Colombia backed down within hours and flight landed in Colombia.
UK isn’t in a great bargaining position at the moment to be honest the deck is stacked in Trumps favour.
The Donald is saving the kicking for later.
His playing divide and conquer. He is very anti the EU and wants to play us against them. Starmer and Lammy are going to have a difficult task trying to thread the needle between the two, since both will act in their own best interest which might end up leaving us in no man’s land.
Well that’s one person who is in employment thinks he is doing ok!!!!!!
Well I guess Trump favouring Starmer is one in the eye to Musk favouring Lord Binface.
I’m in employment and think his doing fine so far.
Labour media relations is a mess, but all their plans seem solid and once the budget kicks in, in April, hopefully the country will start seeing growth from actual infrastructure investment rather than a decade of tory in fighting. We have just had a goverment that has left the economy flat lined for 14 years, NHS waiting lists through the roof, zero real time wage growth, defence in a mess. Starmer and Labour have to be benchmarked against that.
Their investment will take time, so we have to look at what they are doing not what they have delivered so far.
Time will tell, but to me we have a goverment actually investing in the future, which has to be a positive. That doesn’t mean they won’t mess it up or fall into playing politics over what is good for the country, but we will see.
I suggest you tune into some of the IFS pod casts. It’s no good investing in infrastructure if it doesn’t create a return that more than the cost of servicing the debt.
On the plus side we’re seeing a big uptake from UK companies for or offshore services as hiring here is becoming expensive and fraught with risk due to tax increases and employment rights bill. But that’s not going to help the UK in general as essentially it’s money going out the country..
He’s sucking up because he wants something. His true thoughts towards Starmer and the UK are clear for all to see.
Let’s face it all other countries play nice with each other as they are after something, that’s geo politics. Anyone that honestly thinks that one country would do something for another countries benefit without getting something in return is very nieve.
Let’s just hope the current government doesn’t do what the last did with the various trade deals like the australia one. Give them everything they want so they could announce trade deals in the daily mail/express.
Unlike most of Labour hes being diplomatic. As a states leader should. We need the USA’s military more than need us, people just hate admitting it.
What do we need the US military for?
They are always asking us for fighter jets and troops for operations (2001) (2003) as well as global basing, I’m struggling to remember any time since Kosovo in 1999 where we asked them for anything maybe Libya in 2014. We certainly not sending typhoons to intercept missiles over Jordan to improve our relations with Israel.
Maybe AUKUS because rumours are Australia approached us first but then AUKUS is very much in Americas best interest.
This is how partners work FYI.
Last ground war 2003 who had the biggest army, amount of kit, not us we had keep asking the Yanks to borrow day to day kit, they can fight with out us any other nation, not sure we could? We are not a first rate power, we do not have the numbers etc. Yes we have some well placed bases but not a lot to fill them with or even protect them.
Regrettably we need US military equipment to support Ukraine or its finished in short order.
Trumps main ally is Musk and Musk seems to be on a one man war against the UK, and specifically Starmer. So not sure about being diplomatic.
At some point there will be a fall out between Trump and Musk. Too much ego involved in it all
One idiot meets another idiot 🙄, how low the world has become,
Well at least Trump puts is own
People first . Starmer just kicks us 🙄
Its easy to think that post Brexit UK is caught between the devil and the deep blue. Depending on your politics everyone gets a vote on which of the US and the EU is which. But actually we don’t need to sell our soul to either block. This situation is what the Pope calls ‘creative tension’. If the govt holds its nerve in trade and defence negotiations we will come out economically and diplomatically stronger and more secure.
Hopefully. Short-term, The Donald, probably a secret Anglophile courtesy of heritage and real estate ownership, will attempt to play nicely. Nonetheless, ever the pragmatic transactionalist, he will eventually link trade and defence. Carrot and stick approach, virtually guaranteed. Meet the revised NATO defence expenditure rate (range: 3-4% of GDP), receive favorable trade terms. Fail to meet goal — a sliding scale of tariffs and other trade impediments will be imposed. Prediction will either be proved or disproved by 2027.
F-USAF, Todays Daily Mail (not usually known for its accuracy) say that Starmer may not increase UK Defence expenditure to 2.5% until 2032.
I’d not heard that NATO has officially reset the figure to 3-4% of GDP.
GM,
Estimate is a forecast of probable result of next NATO summit in June/July.
US, Poland and the Baltic states will be presented as examples of NATO countries either currently exceeding or meeting a revised goal. These countries will be highlighted as evidence of a realistic expectation of meeting the revised goal.
I think purely from a economic perspective because we have a fairly balanced trade relationship with the US you could be right as his problem is with Germany in particular so a EU row is on the horizon.
Where it might get difficult is if he pushes Denmark much harder on Greenland because we might have a choice to make that would be a tragedy for the West and a gift for its enemies.
I think the altitude of Air Force One has got to him. Does he actually know what Starmer has done to date.
I don’t imagine the Donald knew who he was talking to and Starmer probably bored him to sleep within 5 minutes.
According to Mark Felton Productions, by law, if Denmark decides to sell Greenland, it is the UK who must be given the first opportunity to purchase.
Maybe this is why Trump is now being nice to Starmer.
Maybe we should buy it, and lease the Americans bases, and improve our economy with its mineral riches!
As I trust Labour about as far as I can toss Starmer, this is not likely.
I think that dates from an agreement in the 1920s which the USA was acquiescent too, that if not Denmark, Greenland should be part of Canada.