U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited the White House on Thursday, with several events planned with host, President Donald Trump. This follows a meet-up with our ally France's President Emmanuel Macron on Monday.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave a preview of the positive tone of Starmer's trip to D.C., on his X account earlier in the week, after a phone call with his U.K. counterpart:
Just got off the phone w/ @JohnHealey_MP — the UK Secretary of State for Defense — who confirmed they will increase defense spending to 2.5% of GDP, and eventually much further.
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) February 25, 2025
A strong step from an enduring partner. 🇺🇸🇬🇧 https://t.co/p1C2By8ze3
The post reads:
Just got off the phone w/ @JohnHealey_MP — the UK Secretary of State for Defense — who confirmed they will increase defense spending to 2.5% of GDP, and eventually much further.
A strong step from an enduring partner.
During the press conference on Thursday, Pres. Trump talked about the special relationship between our two countries, while mentioning the trade agreement that Vice President JD Vance is working on "as we speak":
.@POTUS: "We're going to have a great trade agreement... for both countries. And we're working on that as we speak... We're going to make some great trade agreements with the UK and the Prime Minister." pic.twitter.com/SrJrhPhkUc
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 27, 2025
He added that the prime minister delivered an invitation from King Charles III for "a historic second state visit," which Pres. Trump accepted:
.@POTUS: "I was just notified by letter from King Charles that he's extended, through the Prime Minister, a historic second state visit to the United Kingdom. That's a great honor because it's never happened before... thank you very much — we accept." pic.twitter.com/TP0bsiwuJK
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 27, 2025
PM Starmer praised the president for his "deep and personal commitment" to the Ukraine-Russia peace deal:
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to President Trump: "You've created a moment of tremendous opportunity to reach a historic peace deal" between Russia and Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/pefZVeFJG1
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 27, 2025
Trump also made a tongue-in-cheek joke, while complimenting Starmer's accent:
.@POTUS: "What a beautiful accent. I would've been President 20 years ago if I had that accent."
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 27, 2025
🇬🇧 🤝 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/fqHyLJjG6N
At one point, though, there was some conflict--but it didn't come from either Trump or Starmer. A member of the media tried to sow division between them, implying during the Q & A that there could be some trouble with Great Britain's (and Canada's) monarch, over Trump's repeated remarks about Canada becoming the 51st U.S. state.
Here's how it actually played out, when a reporter posed a question to Starmer. Even the prime minister wasn't having it, as you'll see:
“For the prime minister,” began one reporter, “did you discuss, with President Trump, his repeated statements of desire to annex Canada, and has the King expressed any concern over the president’s apparent desire to remove one of his realms from his control?”
Trump, for his part, did not address the journalist’s questions regarding Canada.
“You mentioned Canada,” Starmer said, speaking after the president. “I think you’re trying to find a divide between us that doesn’t exist. We’re the closest of nations and we had very good discussions today, but we didn’t discuss Canada.”
That's when Trump shut down the fake news reporter:
Fake News. President Trump cut off the reporter trying to goad the two leaders into division. Stop lying. https://t.co/1WTn3AIsAY pic.twitter.com/ZIe9Waa9mT
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 27, 2025
Some outlets and social media personalities tried to spin this as Trump rudely cutting off Starmer, when it's clear from the clip that the president is talking to the press. Will the media ever learn that this is a trite and losing tactic against Pres. Trump? I wouldn't suggest holding your breath on that.
UPDATE: Here's a clip of PM Starmer hand-delivering the letter from King Charles III to the president:
"This is really special. This has never happened before. This is unprecedented." -U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer
— Fox News (@FoxNews) February 27, 2025
President Donald Trump accepted an invitation from King Charles III for a second state visit to the United Kingdom, which was presented to him in a letter by the… pic.twitter.com/qbXTorTgQb
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