WASHINGTON: Donald Trump awkwardly joked to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer about hanging his country out to dry in a war against Russia, leaving the close U.S. ally speechless.
During a joint press conference, Starmer was describing the relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom as “the greatest alliance for prosperity and security” that the world had ever seen.
“Whenever necessary, we’ve absolutely backed each other up—” Starmer said, before the president interjected.
“Could you take on Russia by yourselves?” Trump asked, turning to Starmer.
“Well, heh,” said Starmer laughing.
Trump broke into a smile, laughing along with the press.
“Alright, one or two more,” Trump said, changing the subject.
Trump’s unsettling joke comes as the all-too-eager U.S. president and Russian President Vladimir Putin cozy up together, amid high-stakes negotiations to end Russia’s deadly invasion of Ukraine—showing just how willing the Trump administration is to throw its allies to the dogs at Moscow’s command.
Starmer’s visit led to several bumpy moments between the two world leaders.
At one point, Trump hinted at a tense discussion between himself and Starmer. “You’ve been terrific in our discussions. You’re a very tough negotiator, however. I’m not sure I like that—but that’s OK,” Trump said.
At another point, when asked to respond to Trump’s comments about making Canada the fifty-first state, Starmer tried to reply, before being forcefully cut off by the president.
You mentioned Canada. I think you’re trying to find a divide between us that doesn’t exist,” Starmer said.
“We’re the closest of nations, and we had very good discussions today, but we didn’t—”
“That’s enough,” Trump interjected. “That’s enough. Thank you.”
Last month, Elon Musk set his sights on unseating Starmer, consulting with his right-wing allies to devise a strategy to oust the Labour Party’s leader.
Trump said that a minerals deal with Ukraine is the security guarantee Kyiv needs against Russia, brushing aside a plea from Starmer for a commitment of U.S. military support.
Starmer also delivered an invitation from King Charles for a future state visit, which Trump accepted.
But underlying differences between the allies remained, including transatlantic frictions over U.S.-Russia talks aimed at ending the Ukraine war and Trump’s tariff threats.
Before the meeting, Starmer had said there could be no long-term peace in Ukraine without firm U.S. security guarantees - an argument Trump all but dismissed.
“We are a backstop because we’ll be over there, we’ll be working,” as a result of the economic partnership, Trump said. “We’re going to have a lot of people over there.”
Asked whether he could trust Putin, Trump said, “trust and verify,” echoing former U.S. President Ronald Reagan’s views on negotiations with the Soviet Union.
He said he did not think Putin, who organised invasions of Ukraine in 2014 and 2022, would do so again after a deal. Talks toward such a compact were moving briskly, he said.
“It will either be fairly soon, or it won’t be at all,” Trump said.
Starmer said not just any deal would do, underscoring the concern among European nations that a rushed peace deal with Russia might lead to further instability in Europe.
“We have to get it right,” he said at a joint press conference with Trump. “It can’t be peace that rewards the aggressor.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is expected to be in Washington on Friday to sign a deal with Trump on rare earth minerals.
Trump reaffirmed the United States’ long commitments to the mutual defence of NATO nations even if European peacekeepers end up in Ukraine, saying “I support it. I don’t think we’re going to have any reason for it.”