Friday briefing: What happened when Keir Starmer met Donald Trump

The Guardian

28-02-2025

Good morning.
Keir Starmer's meeting with Donald Trump began as expected: handshakes, backslaps, and warm compliments. Like any good guest, the prime minister did not come empty-handed, offering the president an 'unprecedented' second state visit. Starmer was pulling out all the stops to save and protect the decades-old transatlantic alliance. And it seems, for now, that he achieved it: after private talks, Trump affirmed that 'the US and UK have a special relationship, very special, really like no other passed down through the centuries. And we're going to keep it that way. We're going to keep it very strong as it is.'
Despite the generally cordial tone, Trump didn't shy away from goading the prime minister at times. During questions about the war in Ukraine, he asked the prime minister, 'could you take on Russia by yourselves?', prompting nothing more than a laugh from Starmer.
Today's newsletter goes through the key takeaways from last night. That's right after the headlines.
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UK news | A network of Telegram channels with Russian links is encouraging people in Britain to commit violent attacks on mosques and Muslims and offering cryptocurrency in return, campaigners have warned.
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As with other world leaders, Trump dominated the conversation. The prime minister did, however, gently push back at points – most notably when correcting Trump on the nature of British assistance to Ukraine. When Trump claimed European countries were getting most of their money back, Starmer interjected, clarifying that much of Britain's aid to Ukraine was given, not loaned. It echoed a similar moment with the French president, Emmanuel Macron.
All in all, after much hand-wringing, Starmer appears to have successfully threaded the needle with the president. Trump called him a 'very tough negotiator' – high praise in Maga circles – suggesting that in private Starmer managed to hold his ground without resorting to sycophancy or outright deference.
Trump and the king
Trump's admiration for the royal family is no secret – it was one of the few diplomatic cards Starmer could play with confidence. Handing over the king's invitation to meet in Scotland, Sky's Beth Rigby noted that Trump 'genuinely seemed utterly delighted'. The clout of an unprecedented second state visit appears to have done the trick – for now. As Washington bureau chief David Smith aptly put in his sketch: 'Starmer calculated correctly that the puff and pageantry of a state visit with King Charles was bound to appeal to a man who, when he recently wrote on social media, 'LONG LIVE THE KING!', had only himself in mind.'
Denials
Donald Trump took aim at Volodymyr Zelenskyy last week, falsely calling him a 'dictator' and deepening the rift between the two leaders. The remark sparked widespread criticism across Europe, with Starmer making it clear he stood firmly with Zelenskyy.
When a reporter pressed Trump on his comment, the former president came back with a Steve Urkel-style response: 'Did I say that?' His answer made it clear he had no intention of doubling down. He did, however, attempt a conciliatory tone, calling Ukraine's president 'very brave,' though he stopped short of fully retracting his initial comment.
The minerals and the peace deal
After days of negotiations, Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine and the US had reached a 'preliminary' deal to hand over revenue from some of Ukraine's critical mineral resources to the US. The Trump administration expects him to sign the deal later today. Initially, Zelenskyy had accused Washington of pressuring him into an agreement that would leave 10 generations of Ukrainians paying it back.
Trump defended the deal yesterday, calling it a 'backstop'. He argued that the presence of American workers and companies extracting the minerals would serve as a deterrent against Russian attacks. But this falls far short of the security guarantees that Ukraine has long sought. Ultimately, Trump declined to commit to deploying US forces alongside European and British peacekeeping troops, though he insisted that the US would 'always' support the British military if need be.
Earlier this month, Zelenskyy warned that it would be 'very, very, very difficult' for Ukraine to survive without continued US military support. 'Security guarantees without America are not real security guarantees,' he told the Guardian.
On the broader negotiations, Trump expressed confidence that Putin would honour a peace deal. 'I don't believe he's going to violate his word. I don't think he'll be back when we make a deal. I think the deal is going to hold now. They're going to have security.'
Earlier in the day, Putin continued his months-long charm offensive towards Trump, praising his administration for its 'pragmatism, a realistic worldview'.
Chagos Islands
Trump suggested he would support the UK's controversial plan to give up control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, which would then lease one of the islands back to Britain to maintain a strategic airbase used by both the UK and the US.
The deal was first announced in October but became mired in uncertainty after the election of a new Mauritian leader, who has pushed to reopen negotiations. He is asking for changes that could see the total cost soar from £8bn to £19bn. The government has denied this and was hoping for more support from the US.
Tariffs tirade
The UK's distance from the European Union appears to have worked in its favour when it comes to Trump's tariffs. While the president did not explicitly confirm that Britain would be spared, he strongly implied it, stating that the UK is in a 'very different place' to the EU.
Earlier this week, Trump accused the EU of trying to 'screw the United States' and said he plans to impose 25% tariffs on goods from the bloc 'very soon'. His tariff tirade against allies has left the UK increasingly anxious, but for now, at least, the discussion seems to have eased those concerns. He even said the US could have 'great trade agreements' with the UK.
How long this goodwill will last remains uncertain. As Guardian political correspondent Andrew Sparrow noted, no matter how well this meeting went, the real test 'will come when the Trump administration takes decisions, and at this point it is hard to tell how useful the positive language will turn out to be'.
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Premier League | West Ham pushed Leicester deeper into the relegation mire with a 2-0 win at the London Stadium.
NFL | Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker has released a new statement denying allegations of sexual misconduct, while offering an apology. Sixteen massage therapists from the Baltimore area have to date come forward alleging 'degrading' behaviour during their treatment of the five-time All Pro.
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'Trump: US workers in Ukraine would be a security 'backstop'' says the Guardian while the Times has 'Trump: We'll end war and strike trade deal with UK'. 'Trump backs Starmer on Chagos' – that's the Telegraph and the Mirror goes with 'Keir's Trump card'. 'Charmer Starmer pulls off diplomatic win in White House' is the i's version while even the Mail has to give credit with 'What an unlikely bromance!'. 'Trump backs 'great trade deal' for Brexit Britain' – surprisingly there's no subheading somehow claiming it as a 'victory for the Express'. The Financial Times has 'Trump dashes hopes over US cover for Europe peacekeepers in Ukraine'. Top story in the Metro is 'Mystery of Hackman deaths'.
Our critics' roundup of the best things to watch, read, play and listen to right now
TV
Toxic Town | ★★★★☆
Corby, Northamptonshire, 1995: the disused steelworks that were once the heartbeat of the town are to be redeveloped into housing and a theme park. As the land is cleared, a crimson dust of toxic substances is stirred up; open-topped trucks full of the stuff career past unknowing residents to a messy landfill. And so the scene is set for Toxic Town, a true-story drama about a very British scandal. Susan (Jodie Whittaker) and Tracey (Aimee Lou Wood) meet on a maternity ward, before both give birth to children with disabilities. When Susan realises other women nearby have had similar outcomes, she starts a campaign for justice. In the darker moments here, there are flashes of the bleak malevolence of Red Riding or Sherwood. But, however distressing the facts of the case, Toxic Town feels a responsibility to ensure its audience sticks it out. So, ultimately, this is a bittersweet feelgood piece, where ordinary people suffer in deindustrialised towns that have intractable problems, but score a win by supporting each other. Jack Seale
Music
Panda Bear: Sinister Grift | ★★★★☆Much as Noah 'Panda Bear' Lennox – the most prolific and intriguing member of Animal Collective – has cautioned against viewing Sinister Grift purely as an album about divorce – a kind of lysergic Blood on the Tracks for Pitchfork readers – it's hard not to. Initially at least, the lyrics are pitched against music that's not just richly melodic, but incongruously sun-kissed. But then, just after Sinister Grift's midpoint, the album begins to shift: the tempo dramatically drops, the vague hint of melancholy that underpins even Animal Collective's most euphoric moments seems to gradually overwhelm its sound. This is a bold, risky way to sequence an album: listeners entranced by the pop smarts of its opening tracks may give up and turn Sinister Grift off as the whole thing dissolves into mournful, introspective and abstract territory. But if you pay attention to the words, you can't say Lennox didn't warn you, and for those minded to stick with it, there's something striking and believable about its emotional arc. Tagging along is a curious and curiously powerful experience. Alexis Petridis
FilmLast Breath | ★★★★☆
It does not take much to convince that, as an opening title card for Last Breath states, the job of a saturation diver is one of the most dangerous on earth. Based on real catastrophic events during a would-be routine pipeline fix 3,000ft below the surface of the North Sea in 2012, Last Breath is a gripping disaster flick of routine, improvisation and unfathomable experience – the participants shockingly cool under pressure, as the viewer descends into deep, deep stress. The story has been out there for awhile, but it's best to avoid Googling, if possible, to feel the full, stomach-dropping shock of events one stormy late night in September, off the coast of Aberdeen. Riveting, seamless, at points genuinely shocking, Last Breath exemplifies the possibilities of human collaboration – a feat that has stuck with me and, yes, took my breath away. Adrian Horton
Podcast
Scam FactoryWho are the people who send scam texts/emails? This shocking show about the gangs with whole organisations dedicated to deceit focuses on a young Filipino man who thought he was getting a legitimate job, only to be held captive in an armed compound and made to send messages 14 hours a day. His sister's daring rescue attempt helps propel the narrative. Alexi Duggins
Joy, hope and murder in free Syria
Syria has a new leader, and for thousands it is a time of celebration and optimism. But old enmities and fears about what comes next haunt the country. Michael Safi reports
A bit of good news to remind you that the world's not all bad
There is a groundbreaking shift in women's football: embracing the menstrual cycle as a key to unlocking peak performance. By understanding and optimising training around their cycles, female footballers can be empowered to harness their unique physiological strengths. With the guidance of researchers and medical professionals, players can train smarter, recover faster, and achieve superior performances on the pitch.
This innovative approach not only improves their game but also promotes overall wellbeing; when women work with their bodies, they can reach unprecedented sporting heights.
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