Donald Trump’s political revival has inspired a veritable cottage industry in Britain of speculation and commentary suggesting the so-called UK-US “special relationship” has expired, or deteriorated — or outright perished.
Anonymous quotes attributed to members of Trump’s amorphous inner circle had cast doubt over Peter Mandelson’s selection as the UK’s man in Washington. But the latest report, courtesy of The Independent, holds that the former New Labour Machiavel has been confirmed by the Trump administration as the next British ambassador to the US.
Foreign secretary David Lammy’s past criticism of the US president — having once branded Trump a “tyrant in a toupee” and a “serial liar and a cheat” — has also been raised as a possible flashpoint issue. Less considered, has been Lammy’s budding friendship with US vice president JD Vance.
Meanwhile some of Trump’s closet confidantes, notably tech billionaire and MAGA efficiency tsar Elon Musk, have denigrated the UK PM’s tenure in office using overtly conspiracist conjecture. Such attacks have been seized upon and encouraged by Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader and “close friend” of the US president — particularly as they relate to the controversial Chagos Islands handover.
There is an aesthetic judgement here too. Starmer, the considered, bespectacled human rights lawyer, could not cut a sharper contrast with Trump, the bombastic and wildly unpredictable property tycoon-turned-spiritual leader of the US right.
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But the opinion of Trump himself on Keir Starmer, as a statesman and prospective international partner, appears to contradict such analysis. Having castigated the US Democrats for deploying UK Labour campaigners in key swing states during the presidential election, everything Trump has said about Starmer since taking office has been roundly positive.
Last month, Trump said the prime minister has done a “very good job thus far” and that the pair have a “very good relationship”. Asked by the BBC on board Air Force One about his relationship with Starmer, Trump said: “I get along with him well. I like him a lot.
“He’s liberal, which is a bit different from me, but I think he’s a very good person and I think he’s done a very good job thus far.
“He’s represented his country in terms of philosophy. I may not agree with his philosophy, but I have a very good relationship with him.”
In comments overnight, the US president continued in this vein of speaking positively about Starmer. Asked by the BBC in a stop at the Joint Base Andrews airforce facility whether he will target the UK with tariffs, Trump said: “It might happen with that, but it will definitely happen with the European Union.”
Taking aim at the EU, Trump said: “They don’t take our cars, they don’t take our farm products. They take almost nothing, and we take everything from the millions of cars, tremendous amounts of food and farm products.
“So the UK is way out of line, and we’ll see the UK, but [the] European Union is really out of line.
“The UK is out of line, but I’m sure that one — I think that one can be worked out. But the European Union, it’s an atrocity what they’ve done.”
Upon further questioning, Trump added: “Well, prime minister Starmer has been very nice. We’ve had a couple of meetings. We’ve had numerous phone calls. We’re getting along very well.
“We’ll see whether or not we can balance out our budget.”
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The warm words employed by UK government spokespeople — including Starmer — to describe the Trump administration have been subject to scrutiny in recent weeks, particularly by progressive opposition parties (the SNP, Lib Dems and Greens), who believe the PM should take a principled stand against the US president. Lammy’s description of Trump as “generous” and a man with “incredible grace”, in particular, was criticised by some as excessively submissive.
But Trump’s signal today that the UK might well be exempted from his sweeping tariff regime amounts to a diplomatic coup — albeit a tentative one. Starmer’s search for economic growth, the defining mission of his premiership, would be set back significantly if the US president’s trade concerns cannot be “worked out” using standard diplomatic channels.
There are caveats, of course. One cannot always take Trump’s musings — particularly those rambled to reporters on the eve of a long-haul flight — as comprehensive statements of administration policy, or fact. Indeed, the US president insisted he and Starmer had had a “couple of meetings” and “numerous phone calls” in recent months. The public record would suggest he is overstating the extent of their communication.
But when once a transatlantic row between the Starmer government and US administration, encouraged by Musk and UK-based MAGA sympathisers, appeared inevitable — Trump’s remarks point to a positive working relationship. And at a time when the US president is running roughshod over diplomatic norms and razing relationships with supposed allies no less.
It is the government’s stated position that the UK need not choose between the US and Europe in search of its place in the world, and — crucially — deeper economic ties. Expectations for this strategy, given historic Labour-MAGA antagonism (and our geographic reality), have been low.
But on the day his Brexit “reset” faces a crucial test in Brussels, Trump’s comments could well serve to strengthen Starmer’s resolve.
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Lunchtime soundbite
‘We mustn’t let Donald Trump bully the UK or our close ally Canada, who we share a head of state with. Trump’s tariffs on our Commonwealth partner are a shocking way to treat a country that stood alongside both the US and the UK during the second world war.’
— Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey urges Keir Starmer to invite Commonwealth leaders to a summit in London to discuss coordinated retaliation against the US for the tariffs it has imposed on Canada.
Now try this…
‘Brussels lowers its expectations for Keir Starmer’s Brexit reset’
Via Politico.
‘Keir Starmer’s EU reset: Brexit has failed, Macron will tell Britain’
The Times reports. (Paywall)
‘SNP pivot pays off in Scotland as Labour support sinks’
Latest poll shows pro-independence party set to remain in power as the largest party after next Holyrood elections, writes the FT’s Simeon Kerr. (Paywall)
On this day in 2022:
DUP First Minister Paul Givan resigns in protest of Northern Ireland Protocol
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