Keir Starmer’s Trump charm offensive

The Trump charm offensive has begun. Keir Starmer has met with Donald Trump in the Oval Office as his first White House visit gets underway. What was initially billed as a short welcome before officially talks turned into a thirty-minute question and answer session with the traveling press pack. It made for a wide-ranging discussion as the president spoke on everything from the future of Ukraine to free speech, the Chagos Islands and the positives of the prime minister’s wife.

In a sign that Starmer’s charm offensive is paying off, the conversation between the two leaders was largely warm. Trump described the Labour leader as a “special man” and the United Kingdom as a “wonderful country.” He had particular praise for Starmer’s wife Victoria, who he described as a “beautiful great woman.” Starmer also came with a treat for the president giving him an invite — signed by the King — for a state visit to the UK. The prime minister made sure to flatter Trump heavily throughout the session, including telling Trump how special he was to be invited for a state visit not once but twice. Foreign secretary David Lammy, who as a backbencher campaigned against Trump receiving a state visit the last time around, was sat in the room for the conversation watching on approvingly.

Given the introductory session was ahead of the talks, there is still much to be decided. However, there were hints of where talks on security and Ukraine could go. Trump suggested that a security backstop may not be required as the minerals deal between the US and Ukraine could cover that. He also repeatedly suggested that it was too early to get into talks about potential peacekeeping troops and security, as the hard bit was getting a deal in the first place.

While Starmer spoke a lot less than Trump in the session, it was clear they had a different approach to dealing with Vladimir Putin. Trump said he believe the Russian leader could be trusted to keep to a deal — Starmer did not say the same. However, Starmer also had his life made a little easier on Ukraine when Trump was asked about calling Zelensky a dictator previously. Rather than repeat the charge, he replied: “Did I say that? I can’t believe I said that. Next question.” That meant Starmer did not find himself in a position whereby he needed to correct him — or risk a backlash back home for not doing so. He did, however, hit back when J.D. Vance brought up issues with freedom of speech in the UK. Starmer made the point that he was proud of the UK’s tradition on freedom of speech. This was the closest thing to a disagreement during the session.

There was one piece of potentially surprising good news for Starmer in the first session. Trump talked about the much-criticized Chagos Islands deal. The deal would see the UK give up sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, while keeping a military base there. Both the Reform Party and the Conservatives have been heavily critical of the deal, suggesting it cedes power to Beijing and would be a strategic mistake. However, Trump seems much more relaxed about the whole thing. He said he’s “inclined to go along with” it. While that’s not a definite thumbs-up to the deal, it is more positive than many expected.