Starmer dines with Trump in New York in bid to ensure UK-US relationship

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer dined with Donald Trump for two hours as he sought to move past previous criticism of the former president to burnish personal relations ahead of a US election that may return him to power.

The meal at Trump Tower in New York capped off a two-day visit by the new premier to attend the United Nations General Assembly. The two men discussed the longstanding friendship between their two nations and the importance of maintaining an enduring partnership, according to Starmer’s office.

With UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy also in attendance, there was potential for awkwardness given both he and Starmer had criticised Trump while their left-leaning Labour Party was in opposition.

Now in government, and with a tight presidential race between Trump and Vice-President Kamala Harris on the other side of the Atlantic, they face the prospect of having to work closely with him.

“It’ll be really to establish a relationship between the two of us,” Starmer told reporters before meeting Trump. “I’m a great believer in personal relations on the international stage. I think it really matters that you know who your counterpart is in any given country, and you know personally, get to know them face-to-face.”