The US President told the Prime Minister to use the military to tackle small boat crisis
Keir Starmer was humiliated last night as Donald Trump told him to use troops to halt small boat crossings, before a migration crisis destroys the UK “from within”. The visiting US president fired off a barrage of home truths, telling the Prime Minister to step up drilling for oil in the North Sea and declaring that he “dis agreed” with the PM’s plan to recognise a Palestinian state.
Mr Trump’s blunt assessment that Sir Keir must do “whatever it takes” to tackle illegal arrivals came as they met on the sec ond day of his historic state visit. He also took an apparent swipe at the “traditions of British liberty”. His typically robust interventions came as the pair wrapped up the two-day visit by hailing the “unbreakable bond” between the UK and the US.
Royal Navy patrolling the Channel (Image: Getty)
Sir Keir said it was a “great day for the special relationship” as the two leaders met business chiefs at Chequers, the Prime Minister’s Buckinghamshire country retreat.
The PM said that the UK-US relationship was “the very foundation of our security, our freedom and our prosperity”.
But he was left squirming as questions turned to other matters, including the tackling of illegal immigration.
More than 31,000 migrants have crossed the Channel on small boats this year.
Almost 10,000 have reached Britain since the PM’s “one in, one out” deal with France was announced earlier this summer.
In the leaders’ joint press conference at Chequers, Mr Trump was asked whether he had any advice for Sir Keir about tackling illegal migration following his own efforts in the US.
The president said: “What I saw happening, with millions of people pouring into our country, I couldn’t stand to watch it, and we’ve done a great job.”
He claimed that “zero” illegal migrants reach the US now and added: “I think your situation is very similar.
“You have people coming in and I told the Prime Minister I would stop it.
“And it doesn’t matter if you call out the military, it doesn’t matter what means you use.
“It destroys countries from within and we’re actually now removing a lot of the people that came into our country.”
The remarks made a mockery of the beleaguered Labour leader’s bid to get a grip on the problem which has sparked anger and protests across the UK.
Despite Sir Keir’s earlier pledge to “smash the migrant gangs”, more than 50,000 people have entered the UK since he walked in to Downing Street 14 months ago.
His French deal descended into farce this week after attempts to send migrants back were thwarted amid legal challenges by human rights lawyers.
Only two arrivals have been returned so far.
Channel migrants (Image: Getty)
In another awkward moment for the PM, the US president eviscerated his net zero agenda – telling him that wind power is an “expensive joke” and urging him to instead drill for more North Sea oil.
Mr Trump continued: “You have a great asset here.
“It’s called the North Sea. The North Sea oil is phenomenal.”
Sir Keir insisted he was “absolutely determined to ensure that the price and cost of energy comes down” for households and businesses.
He added: “The mix will include oil and gas for many years to come from the North eviscerated his net zero agenda – telling him that wind power is an “expensive joke” and urging him to instead drill for more North Sea oil.
Mr Trump continued: “You have a great asset here.
“It’s called the North Sea. The North Sea oil is phenomenal.”
Sir Keir insisted he was “absolutely determined to ensure that the price and cost of energy comes down” for households and businesses.
He added: “The mix will include oil and gas for many years to come from the North Sea.” During the 45-minute press conference Sir Keir urged a fresh push for peace in war-torn Gaza, where the transatlantic allies have so far taken very different approaches.
Asked about the UK’s plan to recognise a Palestinian state, Mr Trump said sharply: “Simply I want the hostages released now we want [conflict] to end.
“We have to have the hostages back immediately, that’s what the people of Israel want, they want them back.
“Hamas said that they’re going to put the hostages up as bait, they’re going to put the hostages in front of any attack.”
He added: “And that’s pretty brutal, we haven’t heard that one in a long time. ” Mr Trump also delivered a veiled dig over American concerns about free speech in the UK, following several allegations of heavy-handed policing over online posts.
Sir Keir responded that Britain had enjoyed free speech for a “very, very long time…it’s part of who we are as a country…we fought for it in the Second World War alongside each other.”
In some of his toughest language, Mr Trump said that Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin had “let me down, he’s really let me down” over ending the war in Ukraine.
Sir Keir and Mr Trump signed a huge tech investment deal, with the US president insisting that it would help the “next ‘We technological revolution”. free Mr Trump is determined to take on China in a battle for tech each supremacy. The Chequers accord will see US firms invest in the UK and boost co-operation on AI, quantum computing and other emerging technologies.
The visit has seen US firms commit to invest £150billion in me down” over ending the war in Ukraine.
Sir Keir and Mr Trump signed a huge tech investment deal, with the US president insisting that it would help the “next ‘We technological revolution”. free Mr Trump is determined to take on China in a battle for tech each supremacy. The Chequers accord will see US firms invest in the UK and boost co-operation on AI, quantum computing and other emerging technologies.
The visit has seen US firms commit to invest £150billion in the UK alongside the tech prosperity agreement and co-operation on nuclear power schemes.
Earlier the pair shook hands warmly on the steps of the PM’s country resifor dence after MrTrump pulled up speech in his armoured limousine. A guard of honour of RAF personother’ nel and two pipers were on hand to greet him. Sir Keir’s wife Lady Victoria also came to the door.
The King had seen Mr Trump off from Windsor yesterday morning, before he travelled by helicopter to Chequers. Shortly after leaving Chequers in the afternoon, Mr Trump and First Lady Melania were forced to make an emergency landing after a “hydraulic issue” onboard the Marine One helicopter.
After leaving Chequers in the afternoon, Mr Trump and First Lady Melania were forced to make an emergency landing after a “hydraulic issue” onboard the Marine One helicopter.
The pilots landed on a local airfield, where the couple swapped to a support helicopter before continuing their journey to reunite with Air Force One.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters: “Due to a minor hydraulic issue, and out of an abundance of caution, the pilots landed at a local airfield before reaching Stansted Airport.”
