All in all, Starmer’s first Trump White House visit looks like it couldn’t have gone much better. No 10 will be delighted and relieved, his enemies bitterly disappointed.
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Much as it would be enjoyable to tell him a few home truths, it would get nobody anywhere, least of all Ukraine or the British people. If a state visit pandering to his immense vanity achieves something genuine, it's worth it. And the Chagos Islands comments stuff Farage & Badenoch, as a bonus.
The right-wing media will be overjoyed at Starmer showing such friendliness and supplication to Trump - it helps legitimise him and weakens any attempt to put together a pan-European response to his actions.
Yes, of course Trump can change pretty quickly but he will know that affects invite from the palace as well, so maybe he will behave. But sad in an issue like this we can’t put national interest before party politics?
Yes, I'm sure crawling up Donald Trump's arse and becoming his friend and partner will have no negative implications for the UK whatsoever, especially with regards to our European allies.
"Our European allies", the UK has stuck its fingers up at Europe over and over again over the last 9 years. Starmer did it again a couple of months ago. We have so few allies Starmer is having to stick his nose up the arse of someone who just freed a sex trafficker, yet you think that's a great move
It's amazing isn't it, these people got walked up the garden path by Starmer when he was Mr Remain, and now he's doubled down on Hard Brexit and gone out to kiss Trump's arse they're having to work overtime to come up with conspiracy theories to make them feel less bad about being mugged off!
Damon, you understand that if we do a trade deal with the USA that exempts from us the US tariffs that are being put on the EU, that the EU will respond by putting tariffs on British trade with Europe when they respond?
Have you considered the sort of impact that would have on the UK economy?
Might it not be too early to tell?
I have my extremely serious doubts and the idea of giving that utter b*st*rd a state visit to Scotland should stick in everybody's throats, everywhere
Yep. I hope that the protests are so vociferous and prolonged that they bring great embarrassment, not only to Trump but to a government that countenanced this invitation.(this would have applied to any government that invited him)
I'm so tired of 'realpolitik'- which has brought us to this pass.
Yes me too. Ok I’m in France, but I care so much about the UK. If I weren’t here I would actually be in Scotland- and I’d sure as hell be on one of those protests !
Yes, but it still feels rather seedy. Yes, we're distracting him with baubles but it does also make us looks like the supplicants we are. There really needs to be a switch away from reliance on the US, we shouldn't have to be in the position of grovelling to Trump.
I do realise that but how much? Trump's mercurial approach to diplomacy could easily still see us hit with tariffs and worse. Then what, we debase ourselves for nothing. I think we played the Royal family card a bit too soon.
I don’t think we’ve debased ourselves. Everyone can see what the situation is here and we’re essentially playing a game of diplomatic chess. Trump is unpredictable but we had to get close to assess and then strategise, that is the value for us. I suspect the alliance will already be talking.
Trump is an adjudicated rapist, a convicted felon, a compulsive liar and a petty vindictive bully. Everytime we pretend otherwise we debase ourselves. But if that is the price for saving Ukraine, it's worth it. I accept morals have no place in realpolitik, but fawning over Trump just sickens me.
I don’t think anyone is pretending anything. Everyone knows what Trump is, Starmer being an outright dick to him (as some people wanted) wouldn’t solve anything. We have a major problem in Europe that we need to get a grip of, asap. Tactical concessions will be needed to end it.
There is an actual war on, the UK economy is in a quagmire, relations between US and Europe are on the brink of complete breakdown. But by all means let's celebrate that Number 10 has a good news cycle.
The can has been successfully kicked. I hope nobody thinks this means we don't need to crack on with moving away from reliance on the US as quickly as we can...
Too early to tell.
He may have bought time for the 'special relationship' with offers on pomp & trade Trump couldn't refuse.
That relationship may prove so 1 sided, degrading & detrimental in the MAGA era, history will show a better move would have been to start divesting from it.
Just because things went well tonight does not mean Trump will not change his tune tomorrow. The man is unpredictable and a compulsive liar. Possibly has dementia or just plain going senile.
Difficult for @kemibadenochmp.bsky.social to criticise though she will .. why? Because she has no principles to guide her, no values to live by, she attacks everything, in the hope she scores..
The Tory party (though not my party), prior to Johnson had a sense of honour.. now long gone.
I agree, the coming weeks will tell but it seems Starmer passed a very difficult diplomatic challenge today. He was able to walk a tight line between standing up for UK/UKR/EU interests whilst doing what is necessary diplomatically to keep the embers of the ‘special relationship’ alive.
Vance asking about free speech. Skill required of a Diplomat is the ability to tell someone to go to hell in such a way that they look forward to the trip. Hope Starmer works on that before lunch.
My feeling too Roxy. 😏 I suppose whatever move he makes next, it was the right thing to do right now, to buy time, tread water, maybe save the UK from tariffs. But on a human, moral plane it was repulsive.
Trump could capitulate tomorrow over everything. He has no honour. The US cannot be trusted now. Starmer is pandering to a lunatic instead of siding with Europe. God I hate what this country has become. Starmer is not a strong leader. I am not a fan Sally. Lucky you’re in France.
It’s pitiful to see a long line of global leaders come to pay homage to the new king. Like some medieval court
For Starmer, Trump will flip on chagos, has 0% intention of being a backstop in Ukraine and will only contemplate a trade deal if a) we buy USA meat and b) the open is played at turnberry
But giving the 🍊🤡 another state visit! Was that really necessary - smacks of desperation rather than diplomacy. I’m no monarchy lover, but I actually feel sorry for Charles having to spend time with that odious man-baby 🤬🤬
Sorry. I’d found myself tempted to feel sorry for the King earlier and had to remind myself that he’s paid to do a job. I didn’t intend to sound hostile or rude.
He is and I get that. More annoyed that Starmer, who I voted for, bent the knee by offering it. I did enjoy seeing him correct Trump as Macron did regarding money to Ukraine, but still feel it shouldn’t have been offered. Even more angry as it’s on the day the Tates were flown to the US 🤬
It’s all soft power. How much harder will it be now for Trump to dump all over UK interests - and they include Ukraine - now that he’s been offered this “historic” and “unprecedented” visit?
After that, Starmer almost had him eating out of his hand….
Starmer holds the secret weapon; the golden ticket…the ‘trump card’, if you will: a second Royal visit.
As long as the prospect and future optics of that visit remain alive, we’re safe. He did well.
Objective view, other than the Royal invite, Trump brushed him off and the UK, like an irrelevance. Backed up by allowing Vance speak. Why was he even there?
Doesn’t bode well for Ireland either given the two statements and the not yet apparent or issued WH invites for Patrick’s day. Tarriffs ahoy
What's the alternative? Tell Trump exactly what he thinks of him? accept the inevitable tariffs? Sell 🇺🇦 straight to Putin with no attempt at engagement?
This is like being polite to your friend's abusive ex. You do it for her.
And by all accounts, NC bought us some badly needed time.
Don’t underestimate the far right in this country. If they can find a way to trash any achievement by this government, they’ll do it. Can’t wait to see how they spin it in the front pages.
Promoted UK interests, countered some bullshit on funding for Ukraine, gave that wee nyaff Vance a slap (sadly only metaphorically) and left appearing firm but friendly to the US without giving much away other than tea with the King - oh, and stuck it to the Tories and Reform.
Heads will currently be exploding in Daily Telegraph and Times HQ on how to spin it too.
“Quick, publish a story about Rachel Reeves preferring a continental breakfast rather than a full English or Western Civilisation something, something, aaaaargh”
If Trump gets the UK as a wedge against the EU when he imposes tariffs we will have part of the answer to some of those questions.
But I fear we are being made into another tool to help break apart the EU, which appears Putin/Trump's bigger picture, and part of Aleksandr Dugin's stated objectives.
Perhaps we might also give the man some damn credit for a change and stop making out he's some sort of fool. How long is the media going to continue underestimating him? And deliberately aiming to undermine him, in the case of many of our national newspapers.
But he isn't quirky, all of our political journalists got sucked into being celebrity gossip reporters under previous clowns, they are still high on drama, not ready for solid and stable politics.
Oh they're going to harp on regardless. The hope is a constant background drone of discontent will filter through to people who don't pay much attention to politics beyond the occasional headline.
He's not a fool, he's an excellent liar and conman. Let's credit him for continuing to starve children, freezing the elderly and targeting immigrants and the most vulnerable. Enjoy your state visit.
The country needs a competent and serious PM right now and Keir is that person. I am glad we do not have another clown PM like (insert tory / reFUKKK name of choice here).
As long as he is not wearing a blue rosette it’s just factored in he and Labour will never get a fair shake of the stick in media outlets. He’s too smart and too challenging
Hmm, the peace keeping that British troops could be doing in Ukraine may well be keeping the peace with angry Ukrainians ticked off that they have lost half their country due to a stitch up of a Trump/Putin treaty that nobody wanted. Quite the commitment.
Sir Kier did a grand job, I’m actually going to allow myself to feel proud tonight after months of despair. It’s a kin to watching LFC play, don’t quite believe until the final whistle 😉 True leadership right there 👌👏 🌹
Well Done @teamlabouruk.bsky.social you deserve a well earned drink tonight!
When Trump was invited for a state visit to Britain in 2018 almost 2m people signed a petition opposing it. That was before Trump expressed his foulest views on Gaza, Ukraine, Canada, etc. There will be far greater opposition next time particularly in Scotland where Trump is hated with a vengeance
He has nailed that completely and a true statesman now …. Credit to the man and it’s been a long time since we had someone with credibility on the world stage
But as expected the other enemies are delighted to have a reason to say he wants to be another Victor Orban ffs and that he's ruined our relationship with Europe. Lets face it whatever he does he's going to be made out to be the baddy by some group or other.
However it turns out, Starmer has set a line in the WH sand. The Tango Toddler can resile from that, but as far as KS - and the UK and EU - is concerned it's a win. Future negativity reflects on the US, not UK.
I find it embarrassing that we had to use a letter from the king. I don't personally have anything against the king but to use him in this situation is .........
They knew there was a very big chance it would appeal to his vanity, and it looks like they were right. We now get to show him just how incredibly unpopular he is when he does come over. Wonder what happened to that Baby Trump blimp...?
But this wasn’t the crunch- that will come when and if Trump makes a deal with Putin. If that deal is bad, Starmer’s room for manoeuvre will evaporate and he’ll be forced to choose a side.
That's exactly it though isn't it. All this servile fawnery, this humiliating smarminess is just that.
Humiliating. And futile.
What a position to get ourselves into.
And HOW to get ourselves out of it...
Yes, breathing space from negative parts of the press coverage (or not) but all in all just some good optics for the next few weeks nothing else I fear…
That press conference really said nothing of any note, other than the Royal Family was used as a Trojan Horse to get Trump to not say anything nasty and to make vague statements about a trade deal. It wasn't a disaster, but Trump still calls all shots and the UK and Europe remain weak.
I hope he is forced to, sooner rather than later because with Trump going further and further down the corrupt authoritarian route, and his volatility anyway , the crunch will come eventually, and it is clear that our future should be with the Europeans because that *is* where we belong.
I can't help feeling that any attempts at dealings with Trump will end with him rescinding any gains we think he has conceded. The man cannot be trusted. Better by far to deal him out of the game and let him isolate himself and the US. His reign won't last forever.
This is the problem. There is no loyalty from Trump, he'll take what he wants and hang us out to dry. See the warning in the Times about relying on US weaponry.
✅ no on air catastrophe
✅ path to avoid tariffs
✅ could well buy breathing space from Musk
✅ shown up all those who claimed to have links Trump who said POTUS would humiliate PM.
✅ Trump indicates content wit Chagos
✅ will hope to maintain some influence over 🇺🇦 process
Yes, the response was "You mention, Canada, I think you’re trying to find a divide between us that doesn’t exist." KS could have been more circumspect there.
in which the President of the USA (whose worthy subjects the meanwhile chant “we have no
King” from the streets of Washington) exposes himself as a weak, self-regarding man of little shame, hugely pleased to receive a trinket from the King of England.
We're all a bit jaded and blasé about monarchy here, hardly a day goes by without Sir-what's-his-chops or Lord-thingy being on the radio... but maybe a knight bearing a letter of friendship from the King was actually a really, really great move here. Worth £1.30 each or whatever the figure is now?!
You have to wonder what, aside from a royal invite, Keir gave to get such a good outcome. We are dealing with a highly illogical person though, who will probably be saying something different in days. Look at his change on Zelensky.
The PN did good. If the UK can avoid tariffs it could save 1000s of jobs. As Trump advised Mr Starmer earned his money today. And the King will be earning his at the State visit.
Manipulating a fascist by exploiting his weaknesses, giving us time to both disentangle and replenish militarily what support for Ukraine and Tory cuts severely depleted???
Not sure U.K. raising military spending by 0.2% within 2 yrs is going to in anyway stop Trump fm advantaging Putin wrt Ukr. It’s also wider than Ukr - disentangling? - by entering into negotiations for a trade deal? Burnishing a fascist U.S. Pres with an honour never before accorded to a prev one
Why, when Trump repeated the lie that Europe was loaning money to Ukraine that would be repaid, did Starmer say nothing?
Macron would not have been impressed.
Loving the yes but no but responses .. fact is, Starmer has handled the meeting well, maintaining uk interests whilst asserting European defence imperatives.. even the chagos stuff is a non issue .. he’s shut down the right wing whiners on many fronts today.
Comments
You're not a journalist Lewis. You're a court jester.
Have you considered the sort of impact that would have on the UK economy?
I have my extremely serious doubts and the idea of giving that utter b*st*rd a state visit to Scotland should stick in everybody's throats, everywhere
I'm so tired of 'realpolitik'- which has brought us to this pass.
He may have bought time for the 'special relationship' with offers on pomp & trade Trump couldn't refuse.
That relationship may prove so 1 sided, degrading & detrimental in the MAGA era, history will show a better move would have been to start divesting from it.
The Tory party (though not my party), prior to Johnson had a sense of honour.. now long gone.
Sad.
While criticising the PM, using her free speech...
The US population are free to verbally abuse people. The UK population are free from being verbally abused by people.
Personally, unless well justified, I prefer the latter.
When he wasn't there they used to piss in his coffee cup and call him a wanker.
Pretty much how the UK should deal with Trump.
KS ensured he will play ball.
Hope the Scots see him off.
For Starmer, Trump will flip on chagos, has 0% intention of being a backstop in Ukraine and will only contemplate a trade deal if a) we buy USA meat and b) the open is played at turnberry
After that, Starmer almost had him eating out of his hand….
As long as the prospect and future optics of that visit remain alive, we’re safe. He did well.
Doesn’t bode well for Ireland either given the two statements and the not yet apparent or issued WH invites for Patrick’s day. Tarriffs ahoy
This is like being polite to your friend's abusive ex. You do it for her.
And by all accounts, NC bought us some badly needed time.
the Felon will be ‘entertained’ in Scotland?
Perhaps not in the way intended.
We know he is an ar#####
but you must take this for the ‘team’?…..
perhaps?
Aye, that’ll do 👌🏻
“Quick, publish a story about Rachel Reeves preferring a continental breakfast rather than a full English or Western Civilisation something, something, aaaaargh”
Why did Trump not stand him up like Ursula VDL was stood up by Vance only this week?
Why no mind games?
Why big up Keir; "he's a good negotiator" etc?
Cui bono?
But I fear we are being made into another tool to help break apart the EU, which appears Putin/Trump's bigger picture, and part of Aleksandr Dugin's stated objectives.
My god, she'd have flogged him Windsor castle!
Well Done @teamlabouruk.bsky.social you deserve a well earned drink tonight!
Like a goldfish he only remembers the last thing anyone said to him.
I loved the unprecedented 2nd invite to the King. Now if that didn’t do it !
In fact, probably a part of the plan.
Trump has said that he's loved here (his handlers have probably messaged his ego to that effect).
Protestors proving he isn't will be a good thing.
Fucking comic that it is.
At least he’s consistent.
Humiliating. And futile.
What a position to get ourselves into.
And HOW to get ourselves out of it...
Diplomacy is wasted on Trump.
This should reaffirm that Britain is European and where we should be
https://www.rawstory.com/trump-keir-starmer-2671236190/
America gets what it gets and we try make that as amicable as possible but there is no US side to chose.
The American traitor puppet and Putin - or the entirety of the democratic world. Hmm...
I know it was a good photo op, but fundamentally nothing has changed. The USA is still compromised.
*breaks my heart to say that
Although they'll then deny saying anything to anyone.
If it doesn't he's no worse off than everyone else that's tried to rationalize with a lunatic toddler.
✅ no on air catastrophe
✅ path to avoid tariffs
✅ could well buy breathing space from Musk
✅ shown up all those who claimed to have links Trump who said POTUS would humiliate PM.
✅ Trump indicates content wit Chagos
✅ will hope to maintain some influence over 🇺🇦 process
a Tragedy in one scene
in which the President of the USA (whose worthy subjects the meanwhile chant “we have no
King” from the streets of Washington) exposes himself as a weak, self-regarding man of little shame, hugely pleased to receive a trinket from the King of England.
This is the product of months of diplomacy and forward planning.
Macron would not have been impressed.