Donald Trump met with UK Labour leader Keir Starmer on Thursday, engaging in a variety of discussions ranging from international military alliances to domestic entertainment controversies. Today’s meeting, held in London, comes on the heels of Trump thanking May for her hospitality during his recent visit. If nothing else, he took the opportunity to address some of the world’s biggest geopolitical challenges, including the current crisis in Gaza and NATO’s military obligations. Along with this, he unloaded stinging criticisms of American television personality Jimmy Kimmel.
The most notable focus of debate came from Trump’s criticism of the Biden administration, most notably the disorderly withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. He reiterated the need for decisive leadership on the foreign stage, insisting that this administration’s actions have woefully failed.
NATO and Military Spending
During the press conference at the end of the meeting, Trump praised NATO’s new pledge. He underscored that member states are increasing their troop spending to five percent of their GDPs. He remarked on the contributions of the United States to NATO, stating:
“We’re sending a lot of weapons to NATO. NATO is paying for those weapons in full, but we’re sending them, and we’re doing a great job at getting them what they need, and we appreciate the fact that they’re taken care of.”
Throughout his speech, the former president doubled down on his mission to keep NATO strong and focused on the threats the world faces today. He noted the forward-deployed, strategic, encirclement of U.S. military bases at China’s borders. One of those bases is located in the state just an hour’s drive from areas where China produces its nuclear arsenal. This claim alluded to his priority of a strong national security presence and defense strategy around the globe.
Gaza Conflict and Relations with Starmer
Much of the meeting was focused on the developing situation in Gaza. Trump condemned Hamas for its actions, specifically referencing the October 7 attack, which he labeled as:
“one of the worst days in the history of humanity.”
He expressed hopes for a resolution to the ongoing conflict, stating, “We’re working very hard on Israel and Gaza,” and suggested that an end to hostilities could be near. He made clear his critical position to Starmer over the UK’s long-standing promise to recognize a Palestinian state. This really reveals the pattern of how they each approach foreign policy issues.
Starmer’s reply This exchange set the stage for Starmer’s overarching call for UK/US collaborative action. He stated:
“We’ve discussed today how we can build our defences, further support Ukraine, and decisively increase the pressure on Putin to get him to agree to a peace deal that will last.”
This exchange illustrated the ongoing conversation between both leaders, in spite of disagreement on issues at hand.
Controversies Surrounding Jimmy Kimmel
Along with international topics, Trump lingered to focus on the American press. He bashed Jimmy Kimmel, calling him “not a talented person.” More recently he implied that Jimmy Kimmel’s recent cancellation on ABC was due to low ratings. Trump claimed:
“We’re trying to get it back, by the way,” referring to Kimmel’s prior popularity.
Trump’s remarks on Kimmel seem to reflect broader concerns about media influence and public opinion in America. Indeed, his comments drew a polarized response. After all, they land in the middle of current discussions on media bias and celebrity culture.
These talks served to buttress Trump’s view of Trump-UK united front, with Starmer where it counts, recognizing their disagreements. In return, he valued the close partnership between the U.S. and UK. This positivity continues to extend even in light of recent international political tensions.
