President Trump concluded his state visit to Britain on Thursday with a joint news conference alongside Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The leaders exchanged warm words but notably revealed a significant disagreement regarding Palestinian statehood.
Despite their contrasting political backgrounds—Starmer, a former human rights lawyer leading the center-left Labour Party, and Trump, a right-wing populist whose ally Nigel Farage is Starmer’s rival—an unexpected rapport was apparent. President Trump occasionally patted the Prime Minister’s shoulder, while Starmer deftly navigated questions to avoid highlighting their deeper political differences.
A key British objective for the visit was to sway Mr. Trump toward a more assertive stance against President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia regarding the war in Ukraine and to discuss the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The leaders spent “the best part of an hour” in private talks on world affairs. However, it remains uncertain whether the considerable expense and ceremony of the visit will yield tangible progress on these fronts. Mr. Trump stated that Mr. Putin had “let me down” but offered no concrete plans for further pressure or support for Ukraine. On Gaza, Starmer emphasized a united front to end the humanitarian catastrophe, but Trump openly disagreed with Britain’s position on recognizing Palestinian statehood.
A concrete outcome of the trip was a technology partnership agreement signed by both leaders, aiming to position the United States and Britain at the forefront of artificial intelligence and other high-tech innovations.
Key Takeaways from the Visit:
- Investments: Companies like Microsoft, OpenAI, and Blackstone pledged over $200 billion in UK investments over the next decade, with British firms like GSK also committing to US investments. These pledges, common during high-profile visits, are seen as an economic victory for the struggling British economy.
- Jeffrey Epstein: Mr. Trump largely sidestepped questions about his past association with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, claiming unfamiliarity with Peter Mandelson, the recently fired UK ambassador to the US over his Epstein ties, despite previous meetings.
- Nuclear Energy: A rare area of alignment, both Trump and Starmer agreed to bolster nuclear energy. Plans were set to build more nuclear plants in Britain, with fast-tracked reviews from Starmer’s administration mirroring Trump’s executive orders to expedite US reactor approvals.
- Protests: Thousands of protesters gathered in central London on Wednesday to demonstrate against Trump’s visit, offering a stark contrast to the lavish royal reception. Prominent critic Max Hastings, former editor of the Daily Telegraph, was among them, labeling Trump a “destroyer” of the world order.
- First Lady Activities: Queen Camilla personally guided Mrs. Trump on a tour of Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House at Windsor Castle, a century-old miniature palace showcasing British craftsmanship. Later, Mrs. Trump joined Catherine, Princess of Wales, for an event with Britain’s Scouts Association at Frogmore Gardens.
- Tariff Standoff: Despite prolonged negotiations, Britain failed to secure any concessions from the Trump administration on tariffs, particularly for steel and Scotch whisky, leaving these export industries to adapt to entrenched US fiscal policy.
- Free Speech Debate: After criticizing the UK’s approach to free speech, particularly regarding an Irish comedian’s arrest for online posts, President Trump controversially lauded ABC’s suspension of Jimmy Kimmel over comments about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, highlighting a clear double standard.
- Palestinian Statehood: The UK is poised to formally recognize a Palestinian state after Trump’s departure, a move that starkly contrasts with President Trump’s opposition, though he has maintained a cordial relationship with Starmer on the matter.
- Media Reaction: British media was split, with some hailing the visit as a diplomatic triumph and others condemning it as subservience to a problematic American leader. A notable critique came in the form of a poem by former poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy, implicitly contrasting the opulent state dinner with the suffering in Gaza.
As Air Force One taxied and then became airborne from Stansted Airport, marking the end of the state visit, the overall assessment remained divided on whether the diplomatic efforts truly yielded sufficient political and diplomatic benefits to justify the grand affair.