The awkward encounter came as the US president addressed the world’s media on a historic day for the Middle East.
Keir Starmer was at the centre of an awkward interaction with Donald Trump yesterday as the US president spoke to the world’s media. Speaking in Sharm El Sheikh Trump was reading out a list of countries who played a role in securing the release of Israeli hostages and negotiating a ceasefire in the conflict.
The list ended with the United Kingdom, with the US leader inviting the UK Prime Minister to the lectern saying: “Come up here, is everything going good?” Starmer replied awkwardly that things were “very good” before seemingly stepping up to the microphone to speak, before being blocked off by the president who continued with his speech. He added: “It is very nice that you are here. These people all came on like 20-minute notice and I think it is fantastic.”
Starmer was briefly invited to the lectern (Image: BBC)
Speaking afterwards, the Prime Minister hailed a “historic day” and said the UK could play a key role in monitoring the ceasefire.
The Prime Minister was in Sharm El Sheikh to see the US president and fellow negotiators from Egypt, Qatar and Turkey sign the agreement after all 20 of the remaining live Israeli hostages were released by Hamas.
Israel and Hamas were not at the summit.
Sir Keir said: “What happens tomorrow really matters, and that’s why, what I’ve been discussing with leaders all day is, what part can we play?
“And we, the United Kingdom in particular I think, can play a part in monitoring the ceasefire, but also decommissioning the capability of Hamas and their weaponry drawing on our experience in Northern Ireland.
“So the question today has already moved to, how do we implement how do we make sure this moves forward? It’s really important we keep that focus. We mustn’t have any missteps now.”
Sir Keir said he had not put himself forward for a role on the peace board for Gaza to be chaired by Mr Trump, and it was for “others to decide” if former prime minister Sir Tony Blair should be involved.
Sir Tony was among those who queued up to shake hands with the US leader in Egypt and appeared to have the backing of the Palestinian Authority after meeting its deputy chief on Sunday.
Trump then turned his back on the PM (Image: BBC)
But Mr Trump suggested Sir Tony’s involvement on the board that would supervise the governance of Gaza under the plan was still subject to approval.
As he travelled to the Middle East, the US president told reporters: “I like Tony, I have always liked Tony. But I want to find out that he is an acceptable choice to everybody.”
Mr Trump suggested on Monday he might expand the board.
Sir Keir held a series of meetings with leaders in Sharm El Sheikh as they waited for Mr Trump to arrive from Israel, where he met families of hostages and addressed the parliament, saying: “Generations from now, this will be remembered as the moment that everything began to change.”
The Israeli hostages were released throughout Monday, after Israel agreed, in exchange, to start freeing more than 1,900 prisoners and detainees as part of the ceasefire deal.
The prisoners include 250 people serving life sentences after being convicted of attacks on Israelis.
Tens of thousands of Israelis watched the hostage transfers at public screenings across the country.
In Tel Aviv, families and friends of the hostages broke into wild cheers as television channels announced the first group was in the hands of the Red Cross.
The freed hostages, all men, were later reunited with their families and footage released by Israeli authorities showed tearful reunions, including old twins Gali and Ziv Berman, 28, embracing as they were reunited.
