Starmer meets Trump in south Ayrshire for talks at Scottish golf resort
Speaking on the steps of the president's residence at his Turnberry resort, and accompanied by the sound of bagpipes, Trump hailed the deal on tarrifs he and Starmer had struck, describing US-UK relations as "unparalleled", claiming: "We want to make the prime minister happy".
Trump took a series of questions from journalists upon his arrival, who were keen to question the pair on what they would be discussing during the visit.
Occupying most of the president's attention was the ongoing crisis in Gaza.
"I think it's one of the main reasons for our meeting," he told reporters.
Starmer has come under pressure in recent days to move further and faster on recognising Palestine as a soverign state. 255 MPs from nine seperate parties have all written to the PM demanding he move to recoginse Palestine. The UK's G7 ally France also announced last week it would be recognising Palestine's statehood.
Asked whether he felt recognising Palestine as a state was a necessary step towards resolving the crisis, Trump refused to take a stance, adding: "I don't mind him taking one," as he signalled Starmer.
Contradicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's assertions there was no starvation in Gaza, Trump said: "I'm looking at getting people fed right now.
"Maybe that's the number one position because you have a lot of starving people."
The US President claimed America had given $60 million (£45 million) in aid to Gaza already but that other countries would need to step up.
Jumping in, Starmer emphasised: "It's a humanitarian crisis, right? It's an absolute catastrophe. Nobody wants to see that.
He added: "I think people in Britain are revolted at seeing what they're seeing on their screens. So we've got to get to that ceasefire."
Among the President's remarks was a strongly worded condemnation of Russian Presdient Vladimir Putin and the suggestion he would bring forward the deadline given to Putin to negotiate a ceasefire.
"I'm very disappointed in President Putin. Very disappointed in him," said Trump.
"We're going to have to look and I'm going to reduce that 50 days that I gave him to a lesser number because I think I already know the answer - what's going to happen."
The US President was referring to his previous announcement in the Oval Office that he had given Putin 50 days to negotiate a ceasefire deal with Ukraine before imposing 100% secondary tariffs.
Secondary tariffs would target Russia's trading partners in an effort to isolate Moscow in the global economy, potentially including nations that rely on Russia for oil and natural gas.
Donald Trump will also meet with Scotland's First Minister John Swinney druring his trip, at which Swinney will broach the subject of tarrifs on Scotch whisky.
Speaking on Monday morning, Swinney claimed the tariffs on this industry are currently costing whisky manufacturers £4 million a week and he would use this meting to make the case for lowering them.
Asked about this on the steps of Turnberry the president, who himself does not drink, said, "I'm not a big whisky drinker... We're going to take a look at it."
The president will be back in the UK in just under two months when he will be hosted by King Charles during a second official state visit.
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