US President Donald Trump lavished praise on Victoria Starmer, Keir Starmer’s wife, ahead of a meeting with the two world leaders. Although the sound of a bagpipe disrupted the broadcast of the Prime Minister’s arrival at Turnberry, the US president could be heard saying: “We want to make the Prime Minister happy.”

Referring to Victoria Starmer, Mr Trump added: “She’s a respected person all over the United States. I don’t know what he’s (Sir Keir) doing, but she’s very respected, as respected as him. I don’t want to say more, I’ll get myself in trouble. But she’s very, she’s a great woman and is very highly respected.”

Donald Trump, Keir Starmer and Victoria Starmer. (Image: Getty)

Donald Trump and Keir Starmer gave a quick press conference. (Image: Getty)

After a long discussion between the Prime Minister and the US President at the top of the steps, Donald Trump turned to take questions from the press as the bagpipes continued to play.

Asked about tariffs on whisky, he could be heard saying: “We’ll talk about that, I didn’t know whisky was a problem. I’m not a big whisky drinker but maybe I should be.”

And he said of the special relationship: “Our relationship is unparalleled.”

During the quick presser ahead of the talks, the leaders addressed topics from illegal immigration to the war in Gaza. Trump suggested that the UK “cannot let people come in here illegally”.

Speaking to reporters as Sir Keir Starmer arrived at Turnberry, Mr Trump pointed to the Prime Minister’s “very strong stand on immigration”.

Sir Keir said he was “very pleased” to have signed an agreement to return people. Mr Trump told reporters: “My mother was born in Scotland, and it’s an incredible place, a beautiful place.

“And if that be the case, I congratulate you. […] Because, you know Europe is going to is a much different place than it was just five years ago, 10 years ago. They’ve got to get their act together. If they don’t, you’re not going to have Europe anymore, as you know it, and you can’t do that. This is a magnificent part of the world, and you cannot ruin it.

“You cannot let people come in here illegally. And what happens is, there’ll be murderers, there’ll be drug dealers, there’ll be all sorts of things that other countries don’t want, and they send them to you, and they send them to us, and you’ve got to stop them. And I hear that you’ve taken a very strong stand on immigration.”