Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer recently engaged in a phone conversation with US president Donald Trump, expressing his gratitude for Trump’s role in securing a meaningful ceasefire agreement and the release of hostages in Gaza. This conversation took place on Sunday, mere hours after Trump praised Sir Keir, stating, ”He’s done a very good job thus far,” and highlighting their strong relationship.
The collaborative effort between the outgoing Biden governance and the incoming Trump administration proved crucial in brokering the deal, which was finalized between Israel and Hamas earlier this month. President Trump personally welcomed the release of Emily damari,a British-Israeli hostage who had recently been freed.
During their discussion, Sir Keir and President Trump underscored the mutual importance of collaborative efforts to ensure security in the Middle East. The prime Minister seized this chance to outline his government’s agenda of deregulation, emphasizing its potential to stimulate economic growth. This aligns with Trump’s long-standing support for a deregulatory approach, a stance he shares with his advisor and tech entrepreneur Elon Musk. Musk, prior to taking on a US government role, publicly expressed his frustration with regulations that he felt hindered his companies.
However, Musk has been vocal in his disapproval of Sir Keir, repeatedly calling for his removal from office. Last month, Musk made a controversial statement, claiming Sir Keir was “deeply complicit in the mass rapes in exchange for votes” in relation to the grooming gangs scandal.Sir Keir, who served as Director of Public Prosecutions between 2008 and 2013, has vehemently denied thes accusations, branding Musk’s claims as “lies and misinformation.” He asserted that he dealt with these types of prosecutions “head on.”
Interestingly, despite these philosophical differences, President Trump expressed a positive view of Sir Keir in a recent interview.He described the Prime Minister as a “very good guy” and emphasized their strong personal rapport, stating, “I may not agree with his ideology, but I have a very good relationship with him.” This suggests a dynamic relationship characterized by mutual respect, even amidst diverging viewpoints.
UK Labor Leader Sir Keir Starmer and President Trump Speak
In a significant diplomatic move, US President Donald Trump and UK Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer engaged in a phone call, marking a reconnection between the two figures following Trump’s return to the presidency.
Trump began the conversation by extending his condolences to Sir Keir on the loss of his brother, Nick, who passed away on Boxing Day. He also expressed his ”respect” for the UK Royal Family, a sentiment that stems from his long-standing admiration for the British monarchy.Trump’s mother was born in Scotland, further fueling his fondness for all things royal.
The call comes after Trump met with Prince William in France last month. Following the encounter, Trump praised the Prince of Wales, calling him a “good man doing a fantastic job.”
Sir Keir, in turn, signaled his eagerness for a future meeting to solidify the strong ties between the UK and the US. He took to X, formerly Twitter, to express his sentiments: “I look forward to meeting soon to strengthen the close ties between our countries.”
While this upcoming meeting will be the first as Trump’s return to power, the two have crossed paths before, including a visit by Sir Keir to Trump Tower during the presidential campaign.
Last week, Foreign secretary David Lammy confirmed that Sir keir will soon travel to washington for talks with President Trump.
Although the call was not intended as a platform for in-depth policy discussions, notable topics like the proposed deal concerning sovereignty over the Chagos Islands, which houses a joint US-UK military base, were notably absent from official statements. The sensitive issue, which has sparked controversy, was seemingly not addressed during the conversation.
Trade, a crucial element in any bilateral relationship, was touched upon, but the term “tariffs” – a point of contention given Trump’s history of imposing tariffs on various countries, something the UK actively seeks to avoid – was conspicuously missing from both the White House and Downing Street’s accounts.
The White House stated that the two leaders focused on “how both countries can promote a fair bilateral economic relationship.”
