US President Donald Trump spoke warmly about the ‘special relationship’ with Britain yesterday, lavishing praise on Prime Minister Keir Starmer, King Charles and his own mother’s Scottish homeland from the ballroom of his Turnberry golf club.
But mixed in with the compliments were warnings for Starmer on energy policy, immigration and tax, as well as a pointed attack on London Mayor Sadiq Khan, Starmer’s political ally.
Seated side-by-side, Starmer and Trump fielded more than an hour of questions from media in a whirlwind tour of global affairs that included setting a new deadline for Russia to agree a ceasefire in Ukraine and announcing food centres to ease starvation in Gaza.
When it came to the Anglo-American relationship, Trump’s often outspoken – and sometimes confrontational approach – to such media appearances was replaced with a charm offensive.
“The prime minister, he’s been so supportive of us and so strong and so respected, and I respect him much more today than I did before, because I just met his wife and family. He’s got a perfect wife, and that’s never easy to achieve,” Trump said.
Starmer, who spoke for only a small fraction of the 72 minutes the two spent in the gaze of the world’s media, reciprocated the compliments freely in what was the latest chapter of a burgeoning friendship between the two leaders, who hail from opposing sides of the political spectrum.
Starmer listened to Trump talk about cutting immigration – an area in which the British leader is seen by the public as failing. Trump said that policy was key to his 2024 US election win, alongside his promises to reduce taxes and boost the economy.
On energy, the two talked up the potential of small nuclear reactors, but set out opposing positions on other sources of power.
Smoothing over their differences on policy, the two looked ahead to Trump’s next visit in September when he will be hosted by King Charles for a state visit.
Trump’s visit concludes today, when he will open a new golf course near Aberdeen named after his mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, who was born and raised on a Scottish island before emigrating to the United States.
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