Donald Trump has suggested that Keir Starmer must open the North Sea for drilling and adopt stronger immigration policies to secure his political survival, while also asserting that the King's upcoming state visit to the US could 'absolutely' mend strained relations between America and the UK.
Trump's Advice for Starmer
In a phone interview with the BBC on Monday, Trump responded to his earlier Truth Social post where he described Peter Mandelson as a 'really bad pick' but noted that Starmer had 'plenty of time to recover.' When asked what he meant, Trump said: 'If he opened the North Sea and if his immigration policies became strong. Which right now they're not, he can recover, but if he doesn't, I don't think he has a chance.'
The former president has frequently criticised the UK's decision to halt drilling licences in the North Sea. Restarting drilling would likely benefit American companies bidding for licences. Another factor is Trump's long-standing opposition to wind farms, rooted in a dispute with the Scottish government over turbines erected near his golf course in Aberdeen.
King's Visit as a Diplomatic Tool
Asked whether the state visit by King Charles and Queen Camilla—starting Monday with a four-day trip to the US—could repair the rift caused by Trump's bombing campaign in Iran, Trump replied: 'Absolutely. He's fantastic. He's a fantastic man. Absolutely the answer is yes.' He added: 'I know him well, I've known him for years. He's a brave man, and he's a great man. They would absolutely be a positive.'
The King will meet Trump at the White House, hold a private meeting, and deliver a speech to Congress. The visit marks the start of the 250th anniversary of American independence.
Concerns Over Trump's Behaviour
Emily Thornberry, chair of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, expressed worries about the visit, calling it 'high stakes.' She said: 'At the moment I have reservations about it. My worry is that they'll be embarrassed, my worry is Trump's behaviour, and my worry is that it's against a backdrop of there being a war.' She added: 'He seems to think the King is a personal friend, and that the King is the one who wants to come. The King is probably being a proper public servant and doing the right thing. I worry about it, it's high stakes.'
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has called on the Prime Minister to cancel the visit, stating: 'President Trump is one of the most unpredictable people we have seen on the world stage and I hope he does not embarrass our monarch.'
