The personal relationship between British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US President Donald Trump may be difficult to repair after the American leader publicly mocked Starmer during a White House speech, according to diplomats and political figures in the UK.
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Trump ridiculed the British leader while recounting discussions about military support during the ongoing conflict with Iran, imitating Starmer’s voice and suggesting the United Kingdom had failed to act like a close ally. The comments, delivered during an Easter lunch at the White House, mark a further deterioration in relations between the two countries.
The speech was not open to journalists but was briefly published on a White House social media channel before being deleted. The remarks were later circulated online after being captured by reporters.
Mocking remarks over military decisions
During the speech, Trump criticised Britain’s reluctance to provide military assistance in the early stages of US strikes on Iran. He suggested Starmer hesitated when asked about sending aircraft carriers.
According to Trump, he asked Britain, which he said “should be our best” ally, whether its carriers could be deployed. Trump then described Starmer as responding that he needed to consult his team before making a decision.
Trump said he told Starmer that as prime minister he did not need to consult advisers, adding that waiting for meetings the following week would be pointless because the war would already be over.
Downing Street officials disputed the president’s account. Sources said Washington had never requested British aircraft carriers and that the UK had not offered them. In earlier criticism two weeks prior, Trump had claimed Starmer wanted to consult his team about sending minesweepers rather than carriers.
The dispute follows Britain’s refusal to allow US forces to use UK military bases for the initial strikes on Iran, a decision that has drawn repeated criticism from Trump.
Diplomats warn of lasting damage
Diplomats and foreign policy figures in Britain say the exchange has significantly strained the relationship between the two leaders.
One senior diplomat said Starmer had been right to largely ignore the remarks but suggested the damage could be long-lasting. The diplomat said the prime minister should focus on strengthening ties with partners such as Canada, Australia and European allies.
Kim Darroch, a former British ambassador to the United States and former national security adviser, said Starmer had been correct not to join what he described as a “war of choice”. However, he warned the episode had clearly harmed the personal relationship between the two leaders.
Darroch said tensions might eventually ease but cautioned that Trump could react unpredictably, potentially targeting NATO members or European allies including the UK through policies such as higher tariffs.
Support for Starmer’s response
Within Britain, Labour ministers and MPs have rallied behind Starmer, backing his decision to avoid responding directly to Trump’s comments.
Emily Thornberry, chair of the House of Commons foreign affairs committee, said she supported the prime minister’s approach and welcomed a leadership style that involved consulting advisers.
She said decisions on foreign policy and military action should be made with expert input, adding that failing to do so could lead to strategic surprises such as Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Government advisers also said Starmer would continue acting in Britain’s national interest, even if that meant attempting to maintain working relations with Trump despite the president’s remarks.
Political fallout in Britain
Trump’s comments have also complicated the political response in the UK. Figures from opposition parties have criticised the tone of the US president’s remarks even while acknowledging tensions between the two leaders.
Robert Jenrick, Reform UK’s economic spokesman, told LBC radio that relations between Starmer and Trump had taken what he described as a “massive blow” that could prove difficult to repair. He added that he did not support the way the US president spoke about Britain’s leader.
During the same White House lunch, Trump also made disparaging remarks about French President Emmanuel Macron, joking about him being “still recovering” from a blow to the jaw and claiming Macron’s wife treated him badly.
Despite the escalating rhetoric, Starmer has said he will not change his position on the conflict with Iran. Speaking to Parliament’s liaison committee, he said his priority remained Britain’s national interest and that external pressure would not alter his stance.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 4 April 2026
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