Featured Image Credit: Sky News
Topics: Donald Trump, Kate Middleton, King Charles III, Melania Trump, Politics, Prince William, Queen Camilla, Royal Family, UK News, US News, Keir Starmer, Social Media
Rhianna Benson
Topics: Donald Trump, Kate Middleton, King Charles III, Melania Trump, Politics, Prince William, Queen Camilla, Royal Family, UK News, US News, Keir Starmer, Social Media
Onlookers of Sir Keir Starmer and Donald Trump's joint business-based speech today have picked up on some tense feelings between the political pair.
For those who aren't up to speed, Donald and the FLOTUS Melania Trump are in the UK for two days for their second state visit.
Yesterday, they spent the day at Windsor Castle with the British royals, seemingly enjoying their time across the pond. So far, they've spent time with both the King and Queen, as well as Prince William and Kate Middleton.
Today, however, while Melania enjoyed a day accompanied by the Princess, Trump met with British Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, where they discussed their political relationship going forward.
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Speaking at a conference in Chequers minutes ago, the President gushed: "The ties between our countries are priceless."
He added that their two countries' relationship is a 'beautiful inheritance' and the two governments are 'making those ties closer than ever before'.
Not only did Trump go on to praise income brought in by his own new US tariffs, but he claimed a deal on nuclear reactors 'finally' getting done in collaboration with the UK.
Starmer went on to tell the President, 'You are among friends', adding: "I think we all agree, there's so much to celebrate in the special relationship between our two countries."
Unfortunately for Trump, however viewers tuning in from home allegedly picked up on a lack of ease on Starmer's part - despite his gushy words - as he listened to his American counterpart chatter away.
Taking to social media, one onlooker noted: "They've zoomed in on Trump so we can't see how uncomfortable Starmer is."
Another joked: "Starmer looks spooked." "Keir don't half look on edge," a third added.
After touching down in the UK on Tuesday evening, Trump and his wife were treated to a lavish state banquet, hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla, and attended by 160 guests in St George’s Hall.
The event also followed an array of military celebrations and a carriage procession.
During the white tie banquet, Trump paid a heartfelt tribute to America’s relationship with the UK in his speech. He singled out Charles’ 'really amazing' son Prince William and the 'beautiful' Princess of Wales who sat next to the president for the meal.
Trump told guests: "Seen from American eyes, the word special does not begin to do it justice.
"We’re joined by history and faith, by love and language and by transcendent ties of culture, tradition, ancestry, and destiny."
He added: “We’re like two notes in one chord or two verses of the same poem, each beautiful on its own, but really meant to be played together.
“The bond of kinship and identity between America and the United Kingdom is priceless and eternal.”
In his speech, Trump also described his second state visit to the UK as a 'singular privilege', adding later 'but this is truly one of the highest honours of my life, such respect for you and such respect for your country'.
King Charles also gave a speech at the regal event, who spoke about the 'enduring bond between our two great nations' and described how it grew from two sworn enemies fighting against each other in the American Revolutionary War.
The monarch said: “Today, however, we celebrate a relationship between our two countries that surely neither Washington nor King George III could possibly have imagined.
“The ocean may still divide us, but in so many ways we are now the closest of kin.”
However, the state visit has been a point of controversy for some, with protests erupting throughout the UK against the US president's state visit.
Yesterday, central London was flooded with thousands who marched in protest against the visit.
Some held banners which read: “No to the racism, no to Trump”, while others carried smaller versions of the Trump baby blimp, a 20ft iteration which became a symbol of demonstration during the president’s first UK state visit in 2019, when Queen Elizabeth II was on the throne.