Trump and Starmer's "special relationship"

United States President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer presented themselves on the world stage yesterday as political opposites, but also as politicians who are on cordial terms, building a relationship that, according to advisors, opens up space for progress in resolving numerous sensitive issues.

The two leaders praised the restoration of their countries' "special relationship" at a joint news conference, concluding Trump's second state visit to the UK with a show of unity after skillfully avoiding potential contentious issues.

After a two-day state visit to Britain, which the American leader described as an "extraordinary honor", Trump was relaxed at the final conference, while Starmer focused on avoiding controversial topics, Reuters reported.

Neither leader stumbled over potentially uncomfortable topics, and both sidestepped questions about the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his ties to Trump, as well as Starmer's former ambassador to the US.

"We have renewed the special relationship for a new era," Starmer told reporters.

Trump also paid tribute to the close ties enjoyed by the two countries, saying Starmer had been a tough negotiator in securing the first tariff deal with the US, although Britain has not yet received the lower US steel tariffs it had sought.

"We are forever connected, and we are forever friends and we will always be friends," Trump said.

As for the differences, they were most evident in foreign policy, the British agency points out.

Starmer, along with other European leaders, asked Trump to increase pressure on Putin to end the war in Ukraine; Trump, while criticizing the Russian president, avoided mentioning the imposition of additional sanctions against Moscow.

The American leader again expressed frustration that European countries continue to buy Russian oil, but stressed that the UK and Starmer are not among them.

Trump also reiterated his position that he does not agree with countries that recognize Palestine - while Starmer said that Britain will do so unless Israel alleviates the suffering in Gaza and agrees to a ceasefire in the almost two-year war with Hamas.

"I have a disagreement with the prime minister here, one of our few disagreements, actually," Trump said.

Several White House officials described the relationship between the two leaders to the "Politiko" portal as cordial and a tandem in which each moderates the other's views.

"There are those who say that Starmer is more liberal and President Trump is more conservative. But, at the same time, both of them share a view on how to work together. The president is very open to hearing Starmer's views, regardless of political ideology," Steve Witkoff told Politico.

Starmer's unexpectedly cordial approach provides a model for European leaders desperate to stay in Trump's good graces as they seek greater cooperation on Ukraine and a reduction in the high tariffs that have become a hallmark of his administration.

Witkoff, who has been tasked with helping the president secure peace deals in Ukraine and Gaza, has participated in multiple meetings with the two leaders. “I never hear Starmer lecture. I don’t hear him come down from above,” he said. “And the president, by the way, returns the same respect.”

Another White House official said that at the start of Trump's second term, one of the biggest questions was how world leaders would get along with him. Starmer was so politically diverse that the administration did not expect a positive relationship.

“But they became an unexpected tandem,” the official added.

Witkoff said he had the opportunity to see how both Trump and Starmer "moderated" their positions based on what they heard from each other.

“Both of them end up adjusting their positions. And that doesn't mean they're betraying any of their voter base. It means they're adjusting the way they think about making a decision.”

This is a stark contrast to Trump's relations with Europe during his first term. His first term was marked by a confrontational policy towards Europe and NATO, with frequent claims that he and the US were being mistreated and disrespected by allies.

His historic, pompous visit to the UK shows how significantly things have changed. And Starmer has made a special effort to make Trump feel listened to.

“There have been a number of situations where I’ve heard the president say to the prime minister, ‘Why don’t you think about it this way?’ And I’ve heard Starmer accept that and say, ‘I’ll think about it,’” said Witkoff. There is, he explained, a certain “ease” in their relationship, which is the result of a genuine friendship.

Two other White House officials used the word "friendship" to describe the relationship. One of them told Politico that while they have many differences in policy, that doesn't get in the way of cooperation.