US2 min(s) read
Published 11:56 20 Jul 2026 GMT
After it was announced that Andy Burnham is the UK’s new Prime Minister, following Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation, attention has turned to Donald Trump’s comments about the new face of British politics, and they aren’t positive.
The former Mayor of Manchester succeeds Starmer, who became the fourth prime minister in five years to step down.
The announcement followed months of strained relations between Starmer and Trump, particularly after disagreements surrounding the US-Israel war with Iran.
Following the resignation, Trump described Starmer as a "very nice man" but claimed he "has really hurt himself, very very badly."
Burnham, who met with King Charles III and was invited to form a government, is set to make a public address later today.
While Burnham’s appointment symbolizes a new start for Britain, Trump was less than convinced when asked about the UK’s leader.
"I don't know," Trump replied. "I think I see that he was, I guess, the mayor of a town.
"I hear he's extremely liberal, extremely, so that means he probably won't open up the North Sea."
Burnham has been outspoken about Trump for several years and has repeatedly criticized both the president and the political climate in the United States.
Last month, he described American politics as "polarized" and "poisonous," saying it had become a place "where people in communities don't work together”.
Back in 2017, Burnham told the Manchester Evening News he would "refuse to meet the president out of principle" if Trump ever decided to visit Manchester.
Following the January 6 attack on the US Capitol in 2021, Burnham also posted on X: "Any UK politician who gave Trump the time of day should be ashamed right now."
According to the BBC, Burnham's team declined to comment on Trump's latest comments.
1 min(s) read
world3 min(s) read
uk3 min(s) read
world4 min(s) read
world3 min(s) read
world1 min(s) read
Published 10:41 22 Jun 2026 GMT
There could be all kinds of implications following the announcement of British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation from office, and AI has weighed in on what it could all mean for Donald Trump and the United States, suggesting the political fallout could have consequences on both sides of the Atlantic.
According to the AI analysis, Starmer's departure comes at a time when relations between the UK prime minister and the US president had already become strained.
While the pair were once seen as close allies, tensions reportedly increased following disagreements linked to the Iran war.
“The relationship is already strained,” the AI said. “Although Trump and Starmer once shared a strong alliance, their relationship has become increasingly splintered amid the fallout of the Iran war.”
The analysis argued that Starmer's exit brings to an end an increasingly strained partnership, adding: “So a departure wouldn't end a warm partnership — it would close out one that had already soured.”
The AI also suggested Trump could use the situation to strengthen his own political narrative, particularly because he publicly predicted Starmer's resignation before any official confirmation emerged.
“Trump's stake in this is partly about being seen to be right,” it explained. “He publicly predicted the resignation before Downing Street confirmed anything, so if Starmer goes, Trump can frame it as vindication.”
The AI noted that Trump had criticized Starmer's handling of key issues, claiming the British leader had “failed badly” on immigration and energy policy while urging the UK to increase North Sea drilling.
However, it stressed that there is no evidence that Trump had inside knowledge of any resignation plans.
“The caveat matters: it remains unclear whether Trump has definitive knowledge or is simply speculating,” the AI said, adding that any suggestion Trump accurately predicted events would be based on “a prediction, not inside information.”
Looking ahead, the analysis suggested the identity of Starmer's successor could have a bigger impact on US-UK relations than Starmer's departure itself.
“The bigger US implication is the successor,” it stated, identifying Andy Burnham as a leading contender. The AI noted that Burnham has previously criticised American-style politics as “poisonous” and argued that Trump's political approach has created instability on the global stage.
Those comments, it warned, “could complicate the UK-US relationship if he becomes PM.”
As a result, the AI concluded that Trump could end up losing a familiar counterpart, even if relations had cooled. “From Trump's perspective, a Starmer exit could trade a soured-but-familiar counterpart for a more openly critical one.”
The analysis also highlighted ongoing questions surrounding Peter Mandelson's appointment as the UK's ambassador to Washington. It noted that Starmer had faced scrutiny over the decision after reports emerged that concerns had previously been raised about Mandelson's links to the late Jeffrey Epstein.
“A leadership change raises the question of who represents the UK in Washington going forward,” the AI added.
Summing up the situation, the AI said: “Net effect for the US: short-term, Trump gets a rhetorical ‘I told you so’; medium-term, he may face a UK government less inclined to accommodate him.”
Published 10:14 13 Jul 2018 GMT
Much to the dislike of the majority of Brits, Donald Trump is currently on UK soil as part of an official visit. The president landed at Stanstead airport yesterday, and kicked off his trip with some rather questionable comments about Brexit before attending a dinner at Blenheim Palace with Prime Minister Theresa May.
Today, the former businessman is scheduled to meet the queen - something that is not at all unusual, given that Queen Elizabeth has met 10 of the 11 other presidents that have served during her reign. Lyndon B. Johnson was the only exception, as he only ever made state visits to Asia during his time in office.
However, none of Trump's predecessors were quite as outspoken as he is, especially when it comes to topics as sensitive as the royal family. And, given that the president has made some pretty questionable comments about Kate Middleton before, he might want to tread carefully around the British monarch.
Back in 2012, the president shared his opinions on leaked photos of the Duchess of Cambridge sunbathing while topless. He tweeted: "Kate Middleton is great - but she shouldn't be sunbathing in the nude - only herself to blame."
Essentially, he blamed her for being spied on. You'd think he might be a little more sympathetic, given that his wife's nude images (taken consensually) from her modelling days are often brought up to spite her, but apparently not. What's more, he doesn't ever seem to have apologised for those comments - and you can bet that the royal family is well aware of them.
However, when it comes to the queen herself, the president had only positive things to say when he spoke about her yesterday with The Sun newspaper.
"She is a tremendous woman. I really look forward to meeting her. I think she represents her country so well," he said. "If you think of it, for so many years she has represented her country, she has really never made a mistake. You don't see, like, anything embarrassing. She is just an incredible woman."
Regardless of how the queen or her family receive the president, though, it's fairly obvious that the British public is not too keen on him visiting the country. Indeed, a recent poll conducted by YouGov found that 77 per cent of Brits have an unfavourable view of the president, and almost half of the British public - 49 per cent - do not think that he should have been allowed to meet the queen.
As a result, huge protests are scheduled to take place across London today, with the main group of anti-Trump marchers in Westminster having brought along a huge inflatable Trump Baby balloon.
[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/nickeardleybbc/status/1017688176310341632]]
Trump himself is well aware of the distaste that the Brits have for him, and - despite saying that they "like him a lot" - he admitted that he feels "unwelcome" in the English capital.
"I guess when they put out blimps to make me feel unwelcome, no reason for me to go to London," he said. "I used to love London as a city. I haven’t been there in a long time. But when they make you feel unwelcome, why would I stay there?"
Of course, protestors have far more to be critical of than Trump's comments about Kate Middleton, but his statements will no doubt be weighing on the minds of anyone in the royal entourage who has to meet with the president today.
Published 11:17 14 Oct 2025 GMT
Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s attempt to align himself with Donald Trump’s high-profile Gaza peace deal took an embarrassing turn.
What was supposed to be a moment of statesmanship in Sharm el-Sheikh ended in awkward silences, snubs, and political jabs that played out in front of the world’s media.
Starmer had traveled to Egypt for the signing ceremony of Trump’s Middle East peace plan, but what unfolded was more humiliation than headline-grabbing diplomacy - and Trump is getting the blame.
World leaders gathered at the Red Sea resort to mark what Trump called a “historic agreement” aimed at ending the conflict between Israel and Hamas. But as the cameras rolled, Sir Keir was left sidelined.
Arriving several hours late, Mr. Trump took his time meeting freed Hamas hostages in Israel before landing in Sharm el-Sheikh. When he finally appeared, the president delivered a lengthy speech — calling out countries alphabetically, starting with Paraguay and Norway — while Starmer waited in the background.
“Where is the United Kingdom? Come here,” Trump eventually said, prompting Starmer to raise his hand and approach with a quip: “Behind you as usual.”
The two shook hands, exchanged brief pleasantries — “Is everything going good?” Trump asked, to which Starmer replied: “Very good” — before the president turned his back and continued speaking.
The Prime Minister, left without an invitation to speak, returned silently to his position among the leaders.
The moment was very awkward.
People were either laughing or cringing at the awkward moment, but some have taken a more serious tone and have accused Trump of "humiliating" Starmer.
One X user wrote: "I've lost count of how many times Trump has humiliated Starmer this year, but this is by far the best. After listing a multitude of countries, the only person he invites to the podium is Starmer - and then brushes him off and sends him packing. Brutal."
A second added: "President Trump pretty much forgot that Keir Starmer was there, he then thought he was going to speak, the look on his face before he walked back."
Yikes.
In an attempt to save face, Starmer posted a photo of the handshake on social media, writing: “President Trump, this is your achievement. I thank you for your tireless efforts to deliver this moment. The UK stands ready to support a full implementation of the peace plan.”
But critics weren’t convinced. An earlier statement from the US ambassador to Israel had already dismissed claims that the UK played a “key role” in the deal, calling one British minister “delusional,” per the Daily Mail.
Starmer wasn’t the only leader navigating uneasy diplomacy. French President Emmanuel Macron also had a notably tense interaction with Trump during the ceremony.
As the two leaders shook hands, what began as a friendly embrace quickly devolved into what appeared to be a low-key power struggle. The pair gripped each other's arms tightly, their hands swinging side to side in a display more intense than diplomatic.
Lip reader Nicola Hickling told the Daily Mail the encounter carried more emotional weight than a casual greeting: “Nice to see you, so you agreed?” Trump reportedly asked Macron. After the French leader muttered something inaudible, Trump pressed him further: “Are you being genuine?”
“Of course,” Macron replied, according to Hickling.
Trump then tightened his grip and followed with: “Okay, so now I want to know why, you hurt me. I already know.”
He squeezed Macron’s hand once more as the French president looked down, avoiding the cameras. The cryptic exchange comes just weeks after Macron was seen mocking Trump alongside other world leaders.
Published 16:20 14 Oct 2025 GMT
Following accusations that Donald Trump "humiliated" UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, a new video has come to light showing another awkward moment.
The world’s leaders gathered in Sharm el-Sheikh for the signing ceremony of what Trump referred to as a “historic agreement” aimed at resolving the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Starmer’s attempt to align himself with Donald Trump’s high-profile Gaza peace deal took a turn for the worse, and the internet responded as you'd expect.
At the conclusion of the press conference, Canadian PM Mark Carney walked over to Trump and engaged in what seemed to be a friendly conversation.
As the two world leaders from North America conversed, the British Prime Minister approached them and appeared to stand awkwardly waiting for them to finish speaking.
He smiled along with the conversation, and just as his turn to speak appeared, he was once again interrupted and was left awkwardly standing next to Trump.
Prior to this, another awkward moment took place.
Arriving several hours late, President Trump took his time meeting freed Hamas hostages in Israel before finally arriving at the Red Sea resort.
Once there, he began delivering an extended speech, calling out countries alphabetically — starting with Paraguay and Norway. Meanwhile, Starmer waited in the background, unsure of when his moment would come.
Finally, Trump called out: “Where is the United Kingdom? Come here,” prompting Starmer to raise his hand and quip: “Behind you as usual.”
After shaking hands and exchanging brief pleasantries, Trump asked: “Is everything going good?” to which Starmer replied: “Very good.”
But instead of handing the podium over to Starmer, Trump simply turned his back and continued speaking. The Prime Minister was left to awkwardly return to his place without the opportunity to address the gathering.
The moment quickly became the subject of online mockery. Some users were laughing at the awkwardness, while others accused Trump of humiliating Starmer in front of the global audience.
One X user commented: “I’ve lost count of how many times Trump has humiliated Starmer this year, but this is by far the best. After listing a multitude of countries, the only person he invites to the podium is Starmer – and then brushes him off and sends him packing. Brutal.”
Another added: “President Trump pretty much forgot that Keir Starmer was there, he then thought he was going to speak, the look on his face before he walked back.”
In an effort to salvage some dignity, Starmer took to social media, posting a photo of his handshake with Trump and writing: “President Trump, this is your achievement. I thank you for your tireless efforts to deliver this moment. The UK stands ready to support a full implementation of the peace plan.”
Despite his attempt to stay positive, the reaction was less than forgiving. Earlier comments from the U.S. ambassador to Israel had already dismissed the idea that the UK played a “key role” in the peace deal, even labeling one British minister as “delusional,” according to The Daily Mail.
We've all been embarrassed in our lives before, but luckily, our moments of humiliation didn't come during an event that was seen by millions around the world.
Published 11:28 16 Jul 2018 GMT
Donald Trump's visit to the UK last week prompted many, many questions. Did two senior royals really flat-out refuse to meet him, leaving the Queen to greet him alone? Is Trump potentially the only person who has ever dared kept Queen Elizabeth II waiting for tea? Does anyone in the UK actually like the US President?
Nonetheless, it was UK Prime Minister Theresa May's numerous encounters with Trump that were the talk of the town - and the moments that presented us with the most important questions. One question, in particular, is a query that is pondered by millions every time Donald Trump and Theresa May meet: why do they always hold hands?
[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/krassenstein/status/825228666300985344]]
The hand-holding first came into play back in 2017 when the two leaders came face-to-face for the first time at the White House in Washington. At the time, the gesture was put down to chivalry by the UK PM, with a Downing Street spokeswoman stating: "If you watch the video, they’re walking along and there is an unseen ramp. He offered his hand, which she took as they stepped down the ramp."
However, when the two grasped hands again when the former businessman travelled over the pond last week, the questions kept on coming. This time, the pair held hands not once, but twice; firstly when they walked up the stairs into Blenheim Palace to share a lavish dinner, and secondly when they made their way downstairs to hold a press conference at Chequers.
[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/anneka_mccarthy/status/1018075153727705089]]
[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/jljacobson/status/1017939479645052928]]
[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/kaszb/status/1017895874675036160]]
"Why does #TheresaMay hold hands with #DonaldTrump? Her majesty #QueenElizabeth didn’t have to. #TrumpUKVsit," asked Twitter user @MzMayRene. She was joined by fellow user @Andrewjwal26 who posted: "Does Mr Trump need Mrs May to help him walk up and down stairs or does Mrs May need Mr Trump to help her. It is not normal for two leaders to constantly hold hands like this. I am sure he would not do it with any other female leader of a country".
But, now finally, Theresa May has provided us with the answer to the question we've all been thinking about. Speaking to the BBC‘s Andrew Marr, the prime minister explained that, in the latest instance, the pair held hands to help the US President up and down a set of stairs. In a TV interview, May stated: "What you notice is that whenever he takes me down a slope or stairs – he did it up the steps at Blenheim Palace – he takes my hand to help in going up the steps."
[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/elliotwagland/status/1017489049794367488]]
However, her explanation was not accepted by Marr, who suggested to that the image she presents when holding Trump's hand may be one of submission. The UK PM replied saying "oh Andrew, come on," to which he remarked "It’s the grab," referring to the way the president often instigates the gesture.
He is not the only one who has been left unsatisfied by May's rationale. In fact, many people on social media have suggested that the action may be down to sexism on Trump's part, with users asking if he has ever held hands with male leaders.
[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/pundit73/status/825621667032469505]]
[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/PanaPhobe/status/825116076191207427]]
In addition, many people have taken the incident to fuel a popular rumour that Trump suffers from bathmophobia, a fear of stairs and dirty handrails (although this term is not officially recognised).
[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/jessphillips/status/1017774990207410176]]
So, what do you think? Is May simply giving 72-year-old Trump a helping hand up the stairs? Are the two physically expressing the "special relationship" that is said to exist between the UK and US? Is it a plain sexist move on Trump's part? Or is the 45th POTUS just terrified of stairs?
To be continued next time the two leaders meet...
.webp_QQJmGo?tr=cr-345.0.1535.1190,f-webp,q-70,w-1024)
.webp_QQJmGo?tr=cr-345.0.1535.1190,f-webp,q-70,w-100)