Starmer and Trump seek to present united front
Sir Keir Starmer and Donald Trump sought to present a united front at Chequers on Thursday, hailing their joint efforts to end the wars in Ukraine and Gaza even as they acknowledged “disagreements” over the issue of Palestinian statehood.
“We are working together to end the humanitarian catastrophe in the Middle East,” Starmer said, referring to Israel’s military operation in Gaza.
The UK prime minister added that he and Trump had agreed to “decisively increase the pressure” on Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom Starmer said had shown “his true colours” with recent attacks on Ukraine.
Trump said Putin had “really let me down”, as he expressed frustration with talks on brokering a settlement in Ukraine.
However, referring to Britain’s plans to recognise a Palestinian state, the US president added: “I have a disagreement with the prime minister on that score — one of our few disagreements, actually.”
Trump also urged the UK to step up its production of North Sea oil and told Starmer to “stop” illegal immigration with whatever means necessary, including deploying the military, as his administration is doing with its crackdown in the US.
Trump also said the US wanted to take back control of the Bagram air base in Afghanistan, four years after American forces left the country under Joe Biden’s administration.
The remarks at the Chequers press conference capped a state visit in which Trump and his wife Melania were treated to a banquet in Windsor Castle as the guests of King Charles and Queen Camilla.
The two leaders also signed a tech investment deal that Starmer said would bring ￡150bn into the UK.
Trump says Putin will end Ukraine war ‘if oil price comes down’
Donald Trump said Russia would end the war in Ukraine if the oil price dropped.
The US president sought to raise pressure on European countries to increase sanctions on the Russian energy sector as a way to force the hand of President Vladimir Putin.
“If the oil price comes down, very simply, Russia will settle,” Trump said.
Trump says Jimmy Kimmel show was suspended over ‘bad ratings’ and ‘lack of talent’
Donald Trump said Jimmy Kimmel’s late night comedy show on ABC was suspended due to “very bad ratings” and “lack of talent”, deflecting concerns that pressure from his administration forced the network to make the move in an affront to free speech in the US.