Footage has emerged of Donald Trump mocking Keir Starmer, accusing the Prime Minister of equivocating over sending UK aircraft carriers to the Middle East. In a speech at a White House Easter lunch, the US president appeared to impersonate Starmer, saying the UK 'should be our best' ally but had not been during the Iran war.
Trump claimed he asked the UK to send its 'old broken-down aircraft carriers' but that Starmer replied: 'No, no, no, I have to ask my team. My team has to meet, we're meeting next week.' The president added: 'But the war already started. Next week the war's going to be over … in three days.'
However, Whitehall sources said Trump had never formally requested the vessels and Britain had not offered them. The remarks were made at a lunch not open to the press, later released on a White House social media channel and then deleted, but republished by a Business Insider reporter.
Starmer has not retaliated, stating he remains 'laser focused' on the British national interest. He told parliament's liaison committee: 'I am utterly focused on what is in the best interests of our country and I am unapologetic about that.'
Reform UK criticised the Prime Minister's global standing following the incident, arguing it undermines Britain's international reputation.
