Trump Administration Live Updates: Keir Starmer’s High-Stakes Meeting with Donald Trump
After French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent meeting with President Donald Trump, which navigated choppy waters but yielded little progress, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to meet Trump on Thursday in a critical bid to persuade the U.S. not to abandon Ukraine. Starmer faces a delicate balancing act similar to Macron’s, but without the benefit of years of rapport built since 2017.
While Macron’s interactions with Trump have been marked by memorable moments—such as the infamous white-knuckle handshake—Starmer enters the Oval Office armed with a significant pledge: to increase Britain’s military spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 and 3% within a decade. This move directly addresses one of Trump’s longstanding grievances—that European nations are free-riding under the U.S. security umbrella.
To fund this rearming, Starmer has announced cuts to Britain’s overseas development aid, a move that mirrors Trump’s dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development, albeit on a smaller scale. Though Starmer describes the cuts as regrettable and budget-driven rather than ideological, they may resonate with Trump, who has long criticized European nations for not pulling their weight in defense spending.
A key focus of Starmer’s meeting will be Ukraine. British officials have signaled that he will express strong support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and warn against rushing into a peace deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin that fails to secure lasting guarantees for Ukraine. “We don’t want to repeat the mistakes of the past, where cease-fires or truces didn’t lead to durable peace,” said Peter Mandelson, Britain’s newly appointed ambassador to Washington.
Starmer’s style contrasts sharply with Macron’s more demonstrative approach, which included calling Trump “Dear Donald” and playfully tapping his knee. Mandelson, who has helped arrange the meeting, emphasized that Starmer’s straightforward and respectful demeanor will be effective. “Keir Starmer is plainly spoken and capable of speaking truth unto power in a way that allows the president to see the value of any situation,” he said.
The meeting comes amid broader shifts in trans-Atlantic relations. While Starmer reaffirmed Britain’s commitment to the “special relationship” with the U.S., Germany’s incoming chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has prioritized building an independent European defense capability, a stance Starmer has explicitly rejected. British officials also hope to announce cooperation on advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, signaling a future-focused approach. Despite the challenges, Starmer’s credibility, bolstered by his Labour Party’s landslide victory, may give him an edge in convincing Trump to remain committed to Ukraine.
In the end, Starmer’s visit is not just about Ukraine—it’s about reinforcing Britain’s role as a reliable ally and setting the tone for Europe’s defense strategy. As the geopolitical landscape continues to evolve, the outcomes of these meetings will have far-reaching implications for trans-Atlantic relations and global security.