Donald Trump lashed out at Keir Starmer, saying a “very sad” rift had opened between the United States and the United Kingdom over the war with Iran and stressing that relations “are not what they used to be.”
The U.S. president reproached the British prime minister for refusing to back the initial American strikes on Iran and noted that other European countries, including France, had shown greater solidarity. Reflecting on Anglo-American ties in an interview with The Sun, Trump said: “These were the strongest relationships of all. And now we have very strong relationships with other countries in Europe.”
Commenting on Starmer’s stance on the conflict, he added: “He was not helpful. I never thought I would see something like that. I never thought I would see it from the United Kingdom. We love the United Kingdom.” According to Trump, “France was magnificent. They were all magnificent. The United Kingdom is very different from the rest. It’s very sad to see that the relationship, obviously, is not what it used to be.”
The British prime minister had earlier cast doubt on the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, saying: “This government does not believe in regime change from the air.” Starmer did not permit American aircraft to use British air bases during the initial attack on Iran, though he later granted access to protect British interests and allies in the Persian Gulf from Tehran’s retaliatory strikes.
Asked whether Conservatives believed Starmer’s reluctance to back the strikes was linked to the Labour Party losing Muslim voters to the Greens, Trump replied: “Possibly.”
The president also said that immigration had made Britain “not the same recognizable country,” adding: “Stop the people coming in from foreign countries that hate you.”
Speaking in the House of Commons on Monday, Starmer stressed that London would take part in military action only where there were “legal grounds and a viable, well-considered plan.” At a closed-door meeting later that evening, the majority of Labour MPs backed his position. Many within the party welcomed with relief the prime minister’s pledge to “learn the lessons” of the ill-fated U.S.-UK invasion of Iraq.