On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer praised the revival of the “special relationship” between their countries. Trump’s unusual second state visit ended with both leaders showing unity in public, while carefully avoiding sensitive issues.
At a warm press conference when the two leaders glossed over differences on Gaza and wind power to present a united front, Trump reserved his toughest language for Russian President Vladimir Putin who he said had “let him down” in his efforts to end what he thought would be an easy war to resolve in Ukraine.
After two days of his state visit to Britain, which the U.S. leader described as an “exquisite honour”, Trump was in a relaxed mode at the final press conference when Starmer was focused on skirting over potential areas of disagreement.
Trump, speaking alongside King Charles on Wednesday at Windsor Castle, the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world, described his visit as “truly one of the highest honours of my life”.
The press conference ended without either being tripped up by potential embarrassing subjects, with both batting away questions over the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his ties to Trump and to Starmer’s former ambassador to the U.S..
Leaders Praise Their Close Ties
“We’ve renewed the special relationship for a new era,” Starmer told reporters.
“This partnership today is a signal of our determination to win this race together and to ensure it brings real benefits in jobs, in growth, in lower bills, to put more hard-earned cash in people’s pockets at the end of each month.”
Trump also described the close ties enjoyed by the two countries, praising Starmer for being a tough negotiator in securing the first tariff deal with the U.S.
“We’re forever joined, and we are forever friends and we will always be friends,” Trump said.
($1 = 0.7328 pounds)
(With inputs from Reuters)
