PM Starmer granted permission on Sunday for the US to use UK bases to target Iran’s missile launchers and stores to help protect countries targeted by Tehran after days of thinking on the decision.
He added that it “took far too long” for the prime minister to change his mind.
Hitting out at Sir Keir directly, the US president said: “He has not been helpful. I never thought I’d see that. I never thought I’d see that from the UK. We love the UK.”
It is the latest of the nation’s butting heads after previous rows over Greenland and the UK’s handing back the Chagos Islands.
But speaking to The Sun about the special relationship, Mr Trump said: “It’s a different world, actually. It’s just a much different kind of relationship that we’ve had with your country before.”
He added: “It’s very sad to see that the relationship is obviously not what it was.”
Asked whether the UK is needed as an ally for its action in the Middle East, he said: “It’s not going to matter, but [Sir Keir Starmer] should have helped… he should have.
“I mean, France has been great. They’ve all been great. The UK has been much different from others.”
Here is all we know about the partnership between the two nations:
What is the relationship between Donald Trump and Keir Starmer?
The relationship between Sir Keir and Mr Trump is unusually complicated for 2 leaders with very completely different political types and priorities.
Whereas they keep diplomatic contact and share pursuits on some world points, sharp disagreements over worldwide norms and strategic priorities have emerged.
The 2 males have already met a number of occasions since Trump returned to the White Home.
In an interview with the BBC in January 2025, Mr Trump praised the prime minister’s management, saying he was a “superb man”.
He added: “I’ll not agree along with his philosophy, however I’ve an excellent relationship with him.”
Following his dialog with Mr Trump, Sir Keir posted on X, saying, “I spoke with @POTUS at this time and congratulated him on his inauguration.
A few days prior to Mr Trump’s inauguration, Sir Keir told the Financial Times that Mr Trump “got here to New York to have dinner with me and I used to be very grateful for that”.
“Our ambition is to have a deal of some kinds with the US, a commerce deal. That’s the place our focus is,” including that the “US is our closest ally”.
Over a telephone dialog across the similar time Sir Keir additionally praised the president for his “position in securing the landmark ceasefire and hostages deal in Gaza”.
Hours earlier than their dialogue, Mr Trump had applauded Sir Keir for his “superb job to date” and shared that the pair had a “superb relationship”.
Their diplomatic engagement has been formed additional by co-operation on points akin to Ukraine and broader safety.
Sir Keir has beforehand travelled to Washington to debate assist for Ukraine’s defence and commerce relations, participating in talks on worldwide safety frameworks whereas insisting that Mr Trump and Europe “need the identical factor.”
But, regardless of this collaboration, underlying coverage variations proceed to affect their interactions.
Greenland: A serious level of competition
Whereas their relationship at the beginning of Mr Trump’s second time period started on a constructive be aware, probably the most vital current disagreements between the 2 leaders centres on Greenland.
Mr Trump has publicly prompt that the US ought to search management over the strategically positioned Arctic island, arguing it’s critical for US nationwide safety, assertions which have alarmed Nato allies.
Sir Keir has firmly rejected these claims, stating that “Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark should determine the way forward for Greenland, and solely Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark.”
His stance places him in alignment with European allies who view Greenland’s sovereignty as non‑negotiable and a matter for its folks and Denmark alone.
Venezuela and worldwide regulation
Relations have additionally been examined by the US intervention in Venezuela.
Mr Trump’s administration performed army operations in Caracas and detained Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a transfer that raised questions over worldwide regulation and sovereign integrity.
Sir Keir has stopped in need of calling it a violation of worldwide regulation, as a substitute saying extra info is required and emphasising the necessity to “set up the info” earlier than outright condemnation.
This cautious method displays Sir Keir’s try and stability alliance obligations with issues about legality and worldwide norms, even when US actions provoke worldwide criticism.
The UK took their time in permitting the US entry to its army bases. However chief secretary to the prime minister Darren Jones mentioned Trump’s current remarks don’t “negate the truth that we make selections on the idea of legality and British curiosity”.
The cupboard minister instructed Sky Information: “Nicely, I’ve seen the president’s phrases, however that doesn’t actually negate the truth that we make selections, as I say, on the idea of legality and British curiosity.
“We have been content material to supply bases at Diego Garcia and RAF Fairford, as a result of evidently, the operations the People will run from these airfields will cut back the danger to British residents and British property within the area and that’s why we agreed to the request to make use of these bases on that foundation alone.
“However the prime minister could be very clear that we weren’t concerned in that first strike and we’re not type of going to struggle with Iran or getting concerned in a wider set of actions.”
Requested whether or not the UK’s evaluation was that there was not a authorized foundation for the preliminary army motion over the weekend, Mr Jones mentioned: “We weren’t concerned within the first wave as a result of it didn’t meet the take a look at the prime minister set out.”
Giving a press release to MPs within the Commons on Monday, Sir Keir mentioned: “President Trump has expressed his disagreement with our determination to not get entangled within the preliminary strikes, however it’s my obligation to evaluate what’s in Britain’s nationwide curiosity. That’s what I’ve accomplished, and I stand by it.”
