Keir Starmer warns Donald Trump of 'severe consequences' to Iran campaign in phone call after 'assassination attempt'

Alice Tomlinson
Sun, 26 Apr 2026 13:50:09 +0000

Sir Keir Starmer has warned President Donald Trump of "severe consequences" of the conflict in Iran in a phone call after what has been described as an "assassination attempt" on the US President.

The Prime Minister spoke to Mr Trump today extending his best wishes to him and the First Lady after a gunman opened fire during the White House Correspondents' Association dinner at the Hilton hotel in the US capital.

A Downing Street spokesman said: “The Prime Minister spoke to President Trump this afternoon.

"He extended his best wishes to the president and first lady following the shocking scenes at last night’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

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“He expressed his relief that the president and first lady were safe and wished a speedy recovery to the officer injured.”

A gunman, named as Cole Tomas Allen, opened fire in the hotel after storming security checkpoints, in what has been described by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as an "attempted assassination" on the US President.

However, Sir Keir wasted no time and moved the phone call on to the issue of the Strait of Hormuz, the spokesman said, discussing the "urgent need" to get commercial vessels moving through the critical waterway given the "severe consequences" for the global economy.

He also shared progress on the "multinational mission" he and French President Emmanuel Macron are spearheading to restore movement through the passage.

Last night, a shooter attacked the Hilton Hotel where US politicians, officials and journalists were attending the White House Correspondents' Association dinner - Mr Trump later described it as "not a particularly secure building".

Armed with multiple weapons – a shotgun, handgun and knives - the shooter exchanged gunfire with a Secret Service Uniformed Division officer, shooting the security personnel's bulletproof vest.

He was tackled to the ground and handcuffed and taken into custody.

The authorities believe he was a "lone actor", DC police chief Jeffrey Carroll said, with the US President describing him as a "lone wolf whack job" who "looked evil" and would spend "life in prison".

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The acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche has said the motive of the suspected shooter remains under investigation, but that preliminary findings suggest he was targeting administration officials, with the President "likely" to be included.

Allen has been charged with two counts of "using a firearm during a crime of violence" and "assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon", US Attorney for DC Jeanine Pirro confirmed.

She added that "many more charges" are expected to be filed against him.

Allen is scheduled to be arraigned in court tomorrow.

Despite the "special relationship" being under particular strain over the conflict in Iran, the phone call between the pair may indicate that the damage is not irreparable.

Mr Trump has attacked Sir Keir Starmer, often over social media, over his unwillingness to send military power to the Middle East.

The US President previously said Sir Keir was "no Winston Churchill" and described the UK's naval vessels as "toys".

Despite Nato allies taking a hands-off approach to the conflict in the Middle East, Sir Keir alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, agreed on April 17 that the two nations would lead a mission to protect the Strait of Hormuz when the war ends.

Sir Keir said, speaking from the French capital: “I can confirm that along with France, the UK will lead a multinational mission to protect freedom of navigation as soon as conditions allow.

“This will be strictly peaceful and defensive, as a mission to reassure commercial shipping and support mine clearance."

In response to this announcement, President Trump took to social media to express his disdain for Nato: "Now that the Hormuz Strait situation is over, I received a call from NATO asking if we would need some help. I TOLD THEM TO STAY AWAY, UNLESS THEY JUST WANT TO LOAD UP THEIR SHIPS WITH OIL.

He concluded, to say the military alliance was "useless", again referring to it as a "Paper Tiger".

Passage through the world's most critical waterway continues to be restricted as Iran and the US remain at loggerheads over the Strait of Hormuz.