Trump names key move Starmer could make to 'recover' beleaguered relationship
Donald Trump has hit out at Sir Keir Starmer multiple times over the past few months.
Sir Keir Starmer could still "recover" his relationship with Donald Trump, the US President said. However, the British Prime Minister would need to change some of his government's policies to succeed, the US leader added.
The US President said the Prime Minister could only “recover” the relationship if he toughened his stance on immigration and changed his mind on North Sea drilling, warning current policies were “not” strong enough. He added: “If he opened the North Sea and if his immigration policies became strong, which right now they’re not, he can recover, but if he doesn’t, I don’t think he has a chance.” The comments came during a phone interview with the BBC on Thursday, ahead of a planned US visit by King Charles III and Queen Camilla next week. The royal couple are set to travel to the United States for a four-day visit starting on Monday, during which they will meet the US president at the White House. Donald Trump also laid bare his views in a separate call with Sky News last week, where he praised King Charles while taking aim at the UK Government’s policies.
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Despite his warm words for the monarch, Mr Trump used the call to again brands the UK's approach to immigration and energy as damaging.
Speaking on the broadcaster’s Trump 100 podcast, the POTUS went on to criticise what he described as “tragic mistakes”.
He reportedly added: "I like Starmer, but I think he made a tragic mistake in closing the North Sea oil. You see your energy prices are the highest in the world. And I think he's made a tragic mistake on immigration."
Journalist Mark Stone was quick to challenge some of Trump’s claims, pointing out that countries such as Belgium and Germany have higher energy prices.
During the call – conducted on Trump's personal mobile and not for broadcast – Stone said Mr Trump revealed spoke of som "interesting stuff on immigration."
He added: "I was struck that he used language that we've heard and repeat over and over again about immigration in the United States. He said 'your country's being invaded'.
"And I said, 'by who'? I pushed back on it, 'but by who'? And he said, 'by illegal immigrants from all over the world, including those from prisons, drug dealers, people from mental institutions, your country is being invaded', he repeated to me."
Mr Stone said he challenged the US President on his claims about immigration, questioning whether they were exaggerated and whether it was appropriate for him to tell Keir Starmer how to run the country.
However, Mr Trump insisted his warnings were accurate, maintaining he had been “right” on immigration and suggested the UK was facing similar issues.
The POTUS was reportedly downbeat about the UK and US' “special relationship”, at one point even appeared unsure what the term referred to.
The growing rift comes amid deepening disagreements over the Iran conflict, with Mr Trump criticising the UK’s reluctance to back US action while Sir Keir has resisted being drawn into a wider war.
