Sir Keir Starmer has confirmed that he and US President Donald Trump will maintain contact after the Prime Minister leaves Downing Street, signaling the continuation of their on-again, off-again bromance. Speaking at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, Starmer said he and Trump “got on well” and that their relationship would endure beyond his tenure.
Starmer's Warm Words Despite Trump's Criticism
Starmer’s comments come just days after Trump described the UK as a country in decline due to the Labour leader’s “weak leadership.” However, the Prime Minister refused to be drawn into criticizing the president, stating he would not be “tempted at the last hurdle” into commenting on others’ remarks. “As far as President Trump is concerned, we have got along really well,” Starmer told reporters. “There's no doubt about that, and we will, and we discussed a moment ago, we'll stay in touch. That is important in terms of the relationship between the UK and the US, because it is a really important strategic relationship for the UK.”
History of the Bromance
Starmer and Trump initially hit it off after Trump’s victory in the November 2024 US election. The pair described each other as “friends” when Starmer visited the White House in January 2025, during which Starmer delivered a letter from King Charles inviting Trump for a second state visit. However, their relationship soured over clashes on tariffs, Greenland, and Starmer’s handling of the Chagos Islands, which Trump called a “surrender.” Trump has also criticized Starmer over North Sea drilling, wind farms, and immigration.
Trump's Air Force One Plans
In a separate development, Trump announced on his Truth Social platform that he would fly an old Air Force One plane from Turkey to the UK “for old time's sake.” He added that a newly overhauled Air Force One would also stop at RAF Mildenhall on the return journey from the NATO summit, allowing US service members stationed there to tour the aircraft. RAF Mildenhall is frequently used as a refueling base for US aircraft.
