Sir Keir Starmer's approach to dealing with US President Donald Trump is under increasing pressure, as critics question whether his pragmatic stance is effective. At a Downing Street press conference on Monday, the Prime Minister emphasised the need for 'calm discussion' over 'gesture politics' to protect the UK-US relationship. However, within 24 hours, Trump launched a fresh attack on the UK's Chagos Islands deal and posted an AI-generated image of himself with European leaders, including Starmer, presenting a map of Greenland, Canada and Venezuela under the US flag.
Starmer's strategy, shaped by his national security adviser Jonathan Powell—who advocates private diplomacy over public criticism—has drawn criticism from political opponents. Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey described Trump as 'a bully' and 'an international gangster', arguing that 'the only way to deal with a bully is to stand up to them'. Some within the ruling Labour Party privately agree, but cabinet ministers have publicly defended the Prime Minister's approach.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones told the BBC that 'British diplomacy is working', citing progress on tariffs and Ukraine. Scotland Secretary Douglas Alexander dismissed comparisons to the film 'Love Actually', saying: 'It's a great film, but it's not a very effective guide to how to do international diplomacy.' He added that he felt 'relief' that the UK has a 'serious leader' in challenging times.
One cabinet minister acknowledged that Starmer's private reaction to Trump's actions was likely one of horror, but questioned what would be gained from public attacks. Another source warned against causing 'irreparable damage' to a vital partnership for short-term headlines. However, some ministers indicated that any attempt by Trump to take Greenland by force would be a 'gamechanger', with one saying: 'We're in completely uncharted territory.'
