Starmer defends King’s US visit as Davey calls Trump a ‘dangerous and corrupt gangster’

WorldPolitics
14 Apr 2026 • 12:38 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Starmer defends King’s US visit as Davey calls Trump a ‘dangerous and corrupt gangster’

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer defended the King's upcoming US state visit as Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey launched a sharp attack on Donald Trump during a parliamentary statement on the Iran crisis.

Davey branded the US president "a dangerous and corrupt gangster" and demanded the visit be cancelled. "We cannot put his majesty in that position," he warned on Monday (13 April).

Starmer held firm, arguing the visit marks the 250th anniversary of the relationship between the two countries. He also reiterated his focus on reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

The visit, planned for late April, will be the first UK state visit to the US since Queen Elizabeth II in 2007.