It’s not every day that a British Prime Minister gets political advice—unsolicited, no less—from a sitting U.S. President.
But that’s exactly what happened when Sir Keir Starmer met Donald Trump at Trump’s Turnberry golf resort in Scotland.
During what turned into a pretty awkward press conference, the former and current power players shared a stage, and Trump didn’t hold back.
In front of TV cameras and reporters, Trump offered Starmer a blunt political playbook to beat rising rival Nigel Farage: cut taxes and stop illegal immigration.
Trump said it’s a “simple formula,” but one that would force Labour to backtrack on many of its policies—especially their tax hikes and energy strategy.
Trump’s Direct Advice to Starmer
Trump was characteristically bold and unapologetic. He told Sir Keir that politics isn’t rocket science.
“Generally speaking,” he said, “the one who cuts taxes the most, offers low energy prices, stays out of wars, and tackles immigration—wins.”
He made it clear that if Starmer wants to outmaneuver Farage, he’ll need to reverse course on taxes and border policy.
Trump, who has long been friendly with Farage, tried to sound diplomatic, saying he liked both men.
But he made it clear: whoever shows the most grit and competence on immigration is the one likely to win.
Immigration, the Channel Crisis, and “Bad People”
Trump didn’t mince words on the issue of illegal migration across the English Channel, calling it “ruinous” for the UK.
According to him, countries aren’t sending their “best”—they’re offloading people they don’t want.
He warned Starmer that letting thousands in illegally would destroy what he called “a magnificent part of the world.”
He cited the sharp rise in small boat crossings—nearly 20,000 in just the first half of 2025, a 50% jump from last year.
Trump drew parallels to his own tough border policies, claiming that immigration is now a bigger election issue than ever before.
A Jab at Labour’s Energy Plans and Sadiq Khan
It wasn’t just taxes and immigration that came under Trump’s fire.
He ridiculed Labour’s support for wind energy, calling it “disastrous,” and slammed the UK for paying massive subsidies for “ugly monsters all over the place.”
And in a particularly uncomfortable moment, Trump took a swipe at London Mayor Sadiq Khan, describing him as a “nasty person” who’s done a “terrible job.”
Starmer, standing right beside him, could only shift uncomfortably.
A Not-So-Private Visit with High Stakes
Though this was supposed to be a private four-day trip for Trump, it turned into a whirlwind of meetings with major UK political figures.
What’s even more unusual is that Trump ended up playing host to Starmer—on British soil.
The Prime Minister had to travel 400 miles north just to meet him at his golf course.
Their joint press conference lasted nearly an hour and left Starmer visibly on the back foot.
Trump even gave him a public lecture on tax policy, reminding the crowd that Labour hiked taxes by a record £40 billion last year and might raise them again this autumn.
Still, Trump remained hopeful: “The Prime Minister hasn’t been here very long. I think he’ll be a tax cutter.”
Gaza, Ukraine, and the Global Stage
While the press conference was politically charged, the visit wasn’t only about domestic politics. The two leaders also discussed urgent global issues:
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Starmer said the British public was horrified by the images of starvation in Gaza and was preparing to brief his Cabinet on a peace proposal that could lead to recognizing a Palestinian state.
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Trump promised to take action to “get the children fed” in Gaza, saying the starvation crisis was “real” and “can’t be faked.”
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On Ukraine, Trump gave Russian President Vladimir Putin a 10-to-12-day deadline to agree to a ceasefire.
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He also pushed back against Labour’s proposed inheritance tax changes affecting farmers, pointing out that he had dropped similar plans in the U.S. after it led to several suicides.
Praise for King Charles and a UK State Visit
Despite all the criticisms thrown at Labour, Trump made time to praise the UK and its monarchy.
He had kind words for King Charles and expressed excitement about his upcoming state visit in September.
Trump’s fondness for the UK was clear, even if his tone toward Labour policies was not.
His message was a mix of admiration for Britain’s traditions and harsh critique of what he sees as political missteps.
Dinner, Diplomacy, and Air Force One
After the public grilling, the two men weren’t done.
Starmer and Trump boarded Air Force One together, flying from Glasgow to Aberdeen for a private dinner.
Because Aberdeen’s airport can’t handle the massive presidential 747, they were expected to land at RAF Lossiemouth instead.
According to insiders, Downing Street still saw the meeting as a win.
Trump’s support on Gaza aid was encouraging, and his overall tone toward Starmer—despite the jabs—was viewed as constructive.
A government source described Trump as “very forward-leaning” on humanitarian support.
The Bottom Line
This was no ordinary diplomatic exchange.
Trump used the moment to position himself as a global political influencer—right down to offering political strategy tips to the UK’s Prime Minister. Starmer may have left with a few bruises, but he also left with commitments on aid, attention on Gaza, and perhaps even a reluctant political ally.
If nothing else, it was one of the most surreal cross-Atlantic encounters in recent political memory.
