Donald Trump has unexpectedly spoken warmly about Prime Minister Keir Starmer—despite failing to call him during his first five days back in the White House. The US President, inaugurated on Monday, initially caused concern by not immediately speaking to his UK counterpart. But in a twist, he has since offered kind words about Starmer to the BBC.
“I Like Him a Lot”: Trump’s Warm Words
Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Saturday:
“I get along with him well. I like him a lot… He’s liberal, which is a bit different from me, but I think he’s a very good person.”
He also suggested he may visit the UK soon, although he joked that, in his first term, he prioritised Saudi Arabia due to a massive arms deal. This time, a return to Britain might top his travel list.
Breaking the Silence
Despite nearly a week passing without the traditional call between a new US President and the British Prime Minister, Trump promised they would speak “over the next 24 hours.” Historically, these early chats reaffirm the “special relationship” between the UK and the US. Starmer has previously met Trump in New York when he visited Trump Tower before the last presidential election.
The Musk Factor
Any blossoming friendship has been overshadowed by Elon Musk, one of Trump’s informal advisers. Since Starmer’s election win, Musk has attacked the Labour leader’s record as director of public prosecutions. He’s even gone so far as to label Starmer “evil.” Despite these provocations, Foreign Secretary David Lammy confirmed Starmer still plans to visit the US within a few weeks. It remains to be seen if tensions over tariffs, military aid, and other policy concerns will cloud their meeting.
Potential Flashpoints
- Tariffs and the UK Economy: Trump’s push for new tariffs could hurt an already fragile UK economy.
- Military Aid: There’s talk of the US reducing the amount of support it sends to Britain.
- Chagos Islands: Labour’s intention to hand the Chagos Islands to Mauritius could upset the longstanding UK-US military base on the archipelago.
- Ambassador Peter Mandelson?: Starmer’s choice for US ambassador raises eyebrows among Trump’s circle.
- Past Criticisms: Let’s not forget Labour’s past vocal objections to Trump during the opposition years.
Time will tell if Trump’s unexpected compliments set a more cordial tone for UK-US relations or if underlying disagreements will keep tensions simmering.
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