British Prime Minister Keir Starmer‘s visit to the White House on Thursday provided a first look at how the United States’s” special connection” with the United Kingdom will fare during President Donald Trump‘s second leadership.
In the wake of French President Emmanuel Macron‘s visit on Tuesday, both leaders demanded that Trump provide a “backstop” for a German peacekeeping mission in Ukraine.
However, Trump and Starmer made a number of non-war-related articles, including new improvements in an unlikely capacity.
Here’s what you need to know from Thursday’s event:
Flattery may get you anywhere, as does a state visit
Starmer tried to beauty and defarm Trump in a manner similar to Macron, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Ishiba Shigeru, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This is a clear sign that world leaders have come together to work together on the same approach to dealing with, probably, the most unexpected president in British history.
Before their diplomatic appointment, Starmer privately issued an “unprecedented” state visit offer to the leader on behalf of King Charles III, with reporters in the Oval Office immediately after they arrived at the White House. Trump will be the first contemporary unusual leader to visit two states as a guest of the British royal family.
” The answer is well. On behalf of our beautiful first woman, Melania, and myself, the answer is yes, and we look forward to being there, and honoring the king, and recognizing, actually, your country”, Trump said.
The president added that “one man has never been given that respect, and I actually do call it an pride, but it’s not for me.” At a press conference held after in the day. It’s for our nation. It’s value for our state”.
Queen Elizabeth II, Charles ‘ mother, held Trump for his first position attend in 2019. Upon his return to the state, the senator quipped that he had” very much fun” with the queen, if, after her departure, the late queen’s companions said she found Trump to be “very disrespectful” during the vacation.  ,
Trump is questioned about how he put Zelensky in terms of “dictatorship.”
The president had increased his condemnation of Zelensky in the wake of Trump’s conversations over the U.S.-Ukraine natural resources package, including claims that Ukraine and former President Joe Biden had allowed Russian President Vladimir Putin to start his 2022 war.  ,
Trump stated on Truth Social as recently as last Wednesday that Zelensky “refuses to have elections” and played the previous administration “like a fiddle,” referencing the billions of dollars in security aid Biden provided to Ukraine.
” A Dictator without Elections, Zelenskyy better move fast or he is not going to have a Country left”, he added.  ,
But when asked on those remarks and a clarification on Thursday in the Oval Office prior to the meeting, Trump pleaded ignorance.
” Did I say that? I can’t believe I said that”, he said.
At the press conference, Trump was asked whether he owed Zelensky an apology for his comments.
” I have a lot of respect for him” , , he said. We’ve given them a lot of money and equipment, but they have fought very bravely, no matter how you interpret it.”
Trump used the same deft manner of deflective language when asked to explain comments he made earlier this week regarding the European Union, where the president claimed the organization was only created to “screw” the United States on trade.
” Did I use the word you said, or something else?” That bad word”, he said.
‘ That’s enough! ‘: Trump puts a reporter in their place
Trump’s mind game on Thursday included a power play with one reporter as well.
The first reporter who arrived for the press conference and asked a question demanded that Starmer respond to the president’s recent request to designate Canada as the country’s 51st state. He even even went so far as to invite retiring Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to a recent Republican Governors Association meeting.
” You mentioned Canada. I think you’re trying to find a divide between us that doesn’t exist. We’re the closest of nations”, Starmer said, prompting Trump to smile.
But before Starmer could continue, Trump cut in,” That’s enough. Thank you”, before calling on another reporter.  ,
White House officials were quick to underscore that the president’s comment was directed at the reporter, not Starmer himself, though the effect remained the same.
Trump may not like NATO, but he likes Article 5 the most.
Speaking of international alliances, despite Trump’s criticism of NATO, the president reiterated his support of Article 5 of the organization during the press conference.
” I support it. I don’t think we’re going to have any reason for it”, Trump said in the East Room.
Article 5 states that NATO members will” come to the defense of an ally that comes under attack.” It , is the reason why Ukraine wants admittance into the alliance, but it is also the reason its admission has been delayed, among other issues, such as corruption.
Trump has publicly disagreed with NATO’s position that “Ukraine’s future is in NATO”. Instead, he has repeated that Ukraine should not become a member.  ,
” It’s not gonna happen, it’s just not gonna happen. That’s what started this whole thing”, he said in the Oval Office before the meeting.
Vance and Starmer argue about free speech.
Starmer appeared less interested in appeasing Vice President JD Vance, even though he turned up the charm for Trump.
Vance delivered a speech earlier in February that offended European leaders at the Munich Security Conference. There, the vice president accused the U. K. and Europe of abandoning democratic principles, including freedom of speech and freedom of religion.
” Look, I said what I said. We do have, of course, a special relationship with our friends in the U. K.”, Vance said Thursday in the Oval Office before the meeting, where he was seated across from Starmer. However, we also know that there have been instances of infringements of free speech.
Starmer replied,” We’ve had free speech for a very, very long time in the United Kingdom, and it will last for a very, very long time”.
Starmer corrected Trump by reiterating that only loans are being made available to Ukraine by the United Kingdom and Europe. Like the U. S., the U. K. and Europe have supplied Ukraine with financial gifts and other assistance.
Trump gives go-ahead for Chagos deal
The Chagos Islands, an archipel in the Indian Ocean, which conservatives on both sides of the Atlantic claim is a crucial stop-gap against China‘s influence in the region, was officially established last year by Starmer as part of negotiations to cede control of it.
Starmer’s deal would send the island chain to Mauritius, a former British colony and current close ally of China. The prime minister paused on the move in November to give Trump the chance to think about moving to the island chain, where Diego Garcia is a joint military base run by American and British forces.  ,
According to reports leading up to Thursday, it was reported that Trump generally supported Republican opposition to the transfer. Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, said he found the proposal” concerning” because it “would provide an opportunity for communist China to gain valuable intelligence.”
But when asked for his opinion Thursday, Trump gave Starmer the green light.
” I have a feeling it’s going to turn out very well,” she said. They’re talking about a very long-term, powerful lease, a very strong lease, about 140 years”, the president said, referencing provisions that will permit the U. S. and U. K. to continue leasing Diego Garcia. ” Actually, that’s a long time, and I think we’ll be inclined to go along with your country. We have to be given the details, but it doesn’t sound bad”.
Trump says he knows’ nothing’ about the Tate brothers
Regarding a more complex situation, Trump denied knowing that his administration was pressuring Romanian prosecutors into their case and was unaware that the infamous Tate brothers were at home.
” If so, I know nothing about that”, Trump said in the Oval Office before the meeting. ” I don’t know. You’re saying he’s on a plane right now? Yeah, I just know nothing about it”.
Andrew and Tristan Tate, who are U.S.-based politicians with millions of followers and fervent supporters of Donald Trump, arrived in Florida on Wednesday after Romania lifted their travel restrictions as part of a new investigation into human trafficking allegations. A judge ruled in December that their case could not be brought to trial, but Romanian authorities have not yet closed their case.  ,
CLICK HERE TO ACCESS MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
The brothers were detained in 2022 and indicted last year on charges of conspiring to extort women from Romania. Andrew Tate, a former professional kickboxer, is also accused of rape.
They deny any wrongdoing.
