Prime Minister Keir Starmer has shrugged off Donald Trump's criticism that he is 'no Winston Churchill', as the UK government maintains a cautious stance on US operations in Iran. During Prime Minister's Questions, Starmer dismissed the need to dwell on Trump's remarks, emphasising that the 'special relationship' is demonstrated through practical cooperation, not by analysing the US president's words.
Trump told the Daily Telegraph that Starmer 'took far too long' to allow US forces to use UK airbases, and later told the Sun the PM 'has not been helpful'. He also commented witheringly: 'This is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with.' However, Downing Street appears confident in its approach, citing three key reasons: Trump's notoriously changeable opinions, public support for Starmer's stance, and the belief that the PM is acting in the British interest.
YouGov polling shows fairly strong opposition to the overall US operation in Iran, with opinion slightly against allowing US aircraft to use British bases. No 10 also notes that other world leaders have learned to ignore much of Trump's rhetoric, waiting to see if it is backed by action. Starmer has previously received praise from Trump, including for his 'beautiful' accent, but the PM has also drawn red lines, condemning Trump's criticisms of Sadiq Khan and his comments about British soldiers in Afghanistan.
While the UK has sought to butter up Trump—including a letter from King Charles proposing a second state visit—the approach is pragmatic. Starmer's team insists he is acting in the British interest, balancing the need to maintain the special relationship with public sentiment and diplomatic coherence.
