Former US President Donald Trump expressed disappointment in UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer for his refusal to deploy aircraft carriers to support US military action against Iran. Speaking from the Oval Office alongside Ireland’s Taoiseach Micheál Martin on March 17, Trump said Starmer “is no Winston Churchill” and described the UK leader’s response as unsupportive.
Trump cites military and trade disputes with UK
Trump reiterated his earlier remarks that Starmer only agreed to send aircraft carriers after the US had “essentially won” the conflict, calling this timing a strategic mistake. He also claimed the US-UK trade relationship had soured under Starmer, despite a recent economic prosperity deal between the two countries. Trump asserted the UK “makes a lot of money on trade” with the US but did not fully appreciate concessions made by his administration.
Downing Street sources denied any US request for UK carriers in the Gulf region. Trump later suggested that if carriers were not feasible, minesweepers would suffice, though Starmer reportedly declined sending any significant naval support prior to the conflict’s escalation.
Trump critiques Starmer’s domestic policies
Beyond foreign policy, Trump criticized Starmer’s immigration and energy policies. He labeled both as “disasters,” urging the UK to “get away from windmills and go back to oil and gas,” implicitly advocating for increased exploitation of North Sea reserves. Trump also criticized Starmer for permitting “millions and millions” of immigrants into the UK.
In response, Taoiseach Micheál Martin defended Starmer as a “very earnest, sound person” capable of effective leadership. Trump said his criticisms were made “in a friendly way” and acknowledged that confidence in Starmer was ultimately up to the British public.
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