Donald Trump has opened up about his relationship with Prime Minister Keir Starmer following a fresh row over Britain’s decision to cede the Chagos Islands.
The US President said he had not spoken directly to either leader since the post but insisted relations remained cordial.
“No, I haven’t [spoken to them], but I think I get along very well with them,” he said. “They always treat me well. They get a little bit rough when I’m not around, but when I’m around they treat me very nicely.
“They’ve got to straighten out their countries. You know, London is having a lot of problems, and if you look at Paris, it’s got a lot of problems too.
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"They have two main problems: immigration and energy.
They’ve got to stop with the windmills and go back the UK has an unbelievable asset called the North Sea.
"Norway uses it and makes a fortune. They have an even better section of it and they don’t do it.
"They could straighten out their countries, and it would be good. But I get along very well with them.”
Donald Trump said that Keir Starmer needs to 'straighten out London'
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Donald Trump has launched a blistering attack on Britain’s decision to cede control of the Chagos Islands home to the vital UK–US military base at Diego Garcia to Mauritius.
In the past Sir Keir Starmer has spoken warmly about his relationship with Donald Trump, saying the pair are united by shared “family values” despite their political differences.
Marking the first anniversary of Labour taking power, the Prime Minister told reporters that maintaining strong ties with the US president is “in the national interest”.
While acknowledging their contrasting political outlooks, Sir Keir said he believes he understands what truly motivates Mr Trump.
The Chagos Islands treaty was signed by Sir Keir Starmer in May last year
| GETTY“For both of us, family really matters,” he said, describing it as a key point of connection between the two leaders.
Last year Donald Trump told GB News host Bev Turner: "I like your Prime Minister. He is slightly more liberal that I am as you have probably heard. But he is a good man."
This morning, posting on Truth Social, the President declared that the UK's "surrender deal" of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius is an "act of great stupidity".
In a statement on January 20, an official spokesperson said the Government acted because the base on Diego Garcia was "under threat after court decisions undermined our position and would have prevented it operating as intended in future".
Critics of the agreement warn that a future Mauritian government could renege on the terms, potentially opening the door for China which has significant influence and investment on the island to gain a foothold at the base.
Those fears were echoed by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in February last year, when he cautioned the deal could pose a direct risk to American security interests.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has also condemned the move, warning it would leave Britain and its Nato allies “weaker”.
"The UK will never compromise on our national security," the spokesperson added.
His remarks come as Sir Keir Starmer doubled down on his stance against Donald Trump on Greenland, after threatening the UK and European nations with escalating tariffs.
Addressing the nation today, the Prime Minister vowed to use the "full strength" of the Government to "protect" the British people if needed.
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