Asked at a White House Press Conference if the PM had been successful in preventing him from introducing tariffs on UK trade, Trump prompted laughter as he said: “He tried. He was working hard, I’ll tell you that”
Donald Trump wouldn’t say if Keir Starmer had talked him out of slapping tariffs on the UK – but he said: “He tried.”
The US President has indicated Britain could be in line for a trade deal “soon”.
But asked at a White House Press Conference if the PM had been successful in preventing him from introducing tariffs on UK trade, Trump prompted laughter as he said: “He tried. He was working hard, I’ll tell you that.
“He earned whatever the hell they pay him over there. But he tried.”
Mr Starmer has been visiting the White House today, primarily to discuss the future of the war in Ukraine.
Trump went on: “I think there’s a very good chance that in the case of these two great friendly countries we could end up with a real trade deal where the tariffs wouldn’t be necessary. We’ll see.”
Earlier in the press conference, President Trump said of Mr Starmer: “You’re a very tough negotiator. I’m not sure I like that, but that’s OK.”
The visit has been something of a love-in, with both leaders speaking fondly of each other – and of each other’s countries.
And Mr Starmer presented Trump with a letter from the King inviting him for an unprecedented second state visit.
Starmer said he and Trump did not discuss the president’s repeated remarks that Canada should become a 51st U.S. state and ignored a question about whether King Charles III, the monarch of Canada, was concerned about the comments.
“I think you’re trying to find a divide between us that doesn’t exist,” Starmer said in response to a question from a reporter.
Canada is a member of the British Commonwealth of former colonies.