Trump’s U.K. visit gets political after royal pageantry

Trump said last week that he was ready to enact “major sanctions on Russia” as soon as all NATO countries stop buying Russian oil. Hungary and Slovakia have continued buying Russian fossil fuels.

Starmer also said the issue was “a challenge to Europe.”

“There are a number of European countries which are too reliant on energy from Russia,” he said.

Earlier, Starmer was all smiles as he and his wife Victoria greeted Trump at Chequers, a 16th century manor house that is the prime minister’s official country residence, some 40 miles north of London.

There, they met with American and British business leaders, including the chief executives of Nvidia, Microsoft, Rolls-Royce and Boeing, before signing a multibillion-dollar tech prosperity agreement that British officials hope will bring thousands of jobs and sweeping investment to the U.K.

Speaking ahead of the signing, Trump said the deal had been “long in the making” and thanked Starmer for his hard work to get it over the line. “With this agreement, our cherished friendship with the United Kingdom is getting stronger and stronger,” he said.

Starmer said the deal marked “a great day for the special relationship.” He earlier showed the president items from the archive of Winston Churchill, who coined the term.

The meeting took place after Trump woke up in Windsor Castle after a night of royal opulence and a lavish state dinner for 160 dignitaries and business leaders.

A day of unprecedented pomp saw Trump — the first elected politician to be invited for two state visits — and his wife treated to the full array of British pageantry and the largest ceremonial military welcome for a state visit in living memory.

“Our countries have the closest defense, security and intelligence relationship ever known,” Charles said in his speech addressing Trump at the state dinner. “In two World Wars, we fought together to defeat the forces of tyranny. Today, as tyranny once again threatens Europe, we and our allies stand together in support of Ukraine, to deter aggression and secure peace.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the king early Thursday “for his steadfast support,” with sanctions on Russia and security guarantees for Kyiv continued sticking points between Washington, London and European powers.

The British government has meanwhile been increasingly critical of Israel’s deadly offensive in Gaza, including its new assault on famine-stricken Gaza City. The U.K. is soon expected to join a number of countries in recognizing Palestinian statehood, a move that has outraged Israeli officials.

Each leader is dealing with a febrile atmosphere at home. Trump arrived in Britain in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s fatal shooting, while his host has been beset by far-right protests, sinking poll ratings and a recent scandal that led to a question about Jeffrey Epstein during Thursday’s press conference.

The meeting with Starmer comes days after Britain’s ambassador to the U.S., Peter Mandelson, was fired following revelations about his ties to Epstein.

Asked about the firing, Trump said he wasn’t familiar with Mandelson. At Windsor Castle two days earlier, protesters had projected images of Trump alongside Epstein in an act that saw four people arrested.

And on the streets of London, thousands attended a protest march that culminated with a rally outside Parliament.

In recent polling highlighting British sentiments toward the president, 70% of Britons said they disliked Trump and 44% said they thought his state visit should be canceled.