UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer met with US President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday in a highly anticipated diplomatic visit.
The talks, which marked Starmer’s first official meeting with Trump since taking office, covered trade, security, and international relations, with several notable moments shaping the discussion.
During the initial exchanges, Starmer surprised Trump with an official letter from King Charles III, inviting him for a second state visit to the UK. The former president, who met the late Queen Elizabeth II during a three-day state visit in 2019, appeared momentarily taken aback before accepting the invitation. Calling it an “honour,” he described King Charles as a “beautiful man” and a “wonderful man.” Starmer emphasized that such an invitation for a second state visit was unprecedented.
While the meeting was largely cordial, Trump dominated much of the conversation, as he has in past meetings with foreign leaders. At one point, when Starmer was asked about Trump’s recent suggestion that Canada should become the 51st state of the US, he carefully dismissed the idea, saying he did not see a divide between the two leaders on the issue. Before he could elaborate, Trump quickly cut in with a firm “that’s enough,” taking control of the conversation.
Despite their contrasting political backgrounds, Trump and Starmer sought to present a united front, with Trump highlighting their shared patriotism. “He loves his country, and so do I,” Trump said, adding that they “like each other” and have mutual respect for each other’s nations.
Trade was a key topic on the agenda, with Starmer pushing back against potential tariffs on UK goods. While Trump did not commit to lifting tariffs, he acknowledged the discussion, saying, “He was working hard, I’ll tell you that. He earned whatever the hell they pay him over there.” He suggested that a trade deal was possible and could happen “pretty quickly.” Starmer framed the negotiations as part of a “new economic deal with advanced technology at its core.”
Talks also touched on the future of the Chagos Islands, a UK territory in the Indian Ocean where Britain is negotiating a transfer of sovereignty to Mauritius while maintaining the key Diego Garcia military base, jointly operated with the US. Some US lawmakers fear the move could benefit China, but Trump indicated he was “inclined to go along with” the UK’s plans, saying he had a “feeling” the deal would “work out very well.”
On the issue of Ukraine, Trump appeared to backtrack on his recent description of President Volodymyr Zelensky as a “dictator.” When asked by a BBC journalist about the comment, Trump responded, “Did I say that? I can’t believe I would say that.” Later in the press conference, he softened his stance, calling Zelensky “very brave” and emphasizing that the two leaders “got on really well.” Trump confirmed that he would be meeting Zelensky at the White House on Friday, where they are expected to sign a major minerals deal.
The meeting also provided Starmer an opportunity to push back against recent criticism from US Vice President JD Vance, who suggested that free speech was under threat in the UK and other European countries. When pressed on the issue, Starmer firmly rejected the claim. “We’ve had free speech for a very, very long time in the United Kingdom—and it will last for a very, very long time,” he said.
While the visit did not produce any immediate policy breakthroughs, it set the stage for future negotiations on trade and security. The dynamics between the two leaders underscored both the challenges and opportunities in the UK-US relationship, with Starmer navigating a delicate balance between diplomacy and asserting Britain’s interests on the world stage.
