First Contact
Sir Keir Starmer has finally spoken on the phone to Donald Trump after the President showered him with praise. The PM and Trump spoke for around 45 minutes, covering trade, the economy, and Britain’s plan to spark a bonfire of growth-impeding red tape.
Positive Exchange
In his first call with a European leader, Trump discussed his love for the Royal Family and happiness at the return of British-Israeli hostage Emily Damari from Hamas’ terror dungeons. The PM applauded the top deal broker for securing a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas – an issue his predecessor Joe Biden failed at for months.
Warm Ties
A Downing Street spokesperson said: "The Prime Minister thanked President Trump for his kind words and congratulated him on his inauguration. The two leaders stressed the importance of the close and warm ties between the UK and the US. They agreed to meet soon and looked forward to further discussions then."
Condolences and Support
The president also offered his condolences to Sir Keir following the death of his brother. Hours before the call, Trump gave the PM a surprise boost as he declared the Labour leader has done a "very good job thus far." On board the Presidential jet Air Force One, Trump expressed his positive relationship with Sir Keir.
Trade Relations
Downing Street has gone to great lengths to try and woo the new President, as well as prevent a bombardment of tariffs on British goods. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds pleaded earlier this week that Trump should exclude Britain from his tariff raids.
Global Tariffs
The US imports fewer manufactured goods from the UK than it exports here, so Reynolds argued that Britain should be spared from the tariffs. This discussion comes as Trump doubled down on his plan to impose tariffs across the globe to boost America’s economy.
