War, statehood, steel and scandal: Trump and Starmer clash over Gaza, tariffs and a forgotten envoy

Donald Trump and Keir Starmer stood shoulder-to-shoulder at Chequers on 18 September 2025, staging a joint press conference that seemed poised for disaster, but managed to deliver shock after shock instead. The U.S. President turned his fire on Vladimir Putin, waxed lyrical about tariffs, and even seemed to suffer a case of diplomatic amnesia when it came to Peter Mandelson.

Trump opened with a blistering critique of Russia. He said Putin had “really let me down” in the Ukraine war, an accusation that struck deeper than many anticipated. It was a fresh tonal shift for Trump, who has often blamed a mix of actors for the conflict. He claimed that Russian forces are dying at a higher rate than Ukrainians, sharply casting Putin’s actions as both brutal and counterproductive.

On Gaza and Palestinian statehood, Starmer and Trump revealed their few but serious points of friction. Starmer affirmed that Britain plans to recognise a Palestinian state—unless Israel meets certain conditions—but Trump openly opposed the move, calling it one of the few disagreements between them. Starmer avoided condemning the bloodshed directly, instead condemning Hamas and urging peace; Trump praised Starmer’s position.

When questioned on free speech and tech regulation, Starmer defended the UK’s Online Safety Act, drawing a line between free expression and online abuse—especially speech that encourages paedophilia or self-harm. Trump’s allies have criticised European rules as hostile to American tech firms, but Starmer seems intent on striking a balance.

Trade proved to be another minefield. Trump lauded Starmer for committing the UK to spend 5% of GDP on defence—a move that reportedly came at the cost of severe cuts to international aid and even prompted a cabinet resignation. Yet when it came to steel exports, the UK did not achieve the zero-tariff breakthrough it had hoped for. Trump remains firm in his support for tariffs, calling them a driver of U.S. economic success.

Strategic ambitions re-emerged in Trump’s remarks about Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. He said the United States is trying to regain control of the base—citing its proximity to where China reportedly manufactures nuclear weapons—as a priority. The comment was delivered casually but hinted at the White House’s long-term military calculus.

One of the most bizarre moments occurred when Trump was asked about Peter Mandelson, recently sacked as UK Ambassador to Washington over his links to Jeffrey Epstein. Despite past interactions and public praise, Trump claimed: “I don’t know him.” Starmer, for his part, defended the dismissal, insisting evidence not available at the time of appointment had since emerged.

Throughout the hour-long session, both leaders attempted to downplay differences while emphasising the revived “special relationship.” Trump praised the UK’s negotiating toughness, while Starmer celebrated a record £150 billion U.S. investment into Britain under the “Tech Prosperity Deal.”

But the show-piece summit ended leaving more questions than answers. No zero tariffs on steel. No clear timeline for ending Gaza’s humanitarian crisis. And a former diplomat, once central to the UK-US trade framework, apparently erased from Trump’s memory—or so he claims. The scoreboard? Dramatic headline moments. Actual resolutions: elusive.