Starmer and Trump pledge renewed UK-US ties as Chequers visit unfolds

Keir Starmer and Donald Trump used a joint press conference at Chequers to frame a renewed Special Relationship as the backbone of ties between the United Kingdom and the United States. The prime minister said the countries are first partners and spoke of a personal rapport with the US president, while aides underscored a major tech investment package that officials described as a step toward deeper transatlantic cooperation. The visit followed a day of formal pomp, including a state-visit–style reception and a prior day of ceremonial engagements at Windsor.

As the two leaders stood before cameras, Trump praised the alliance as an unbreakable bond and said the relationship would grow closer as they pursue shared goals. Starmer, for his part, spoke of leaders who respect one another and genuinely like each other, arguing that the partnership requires ongoing cooperation on both sides of the Atlantic. The talks at Chequers culminated in the signing of a significant tech investment deal, which officials said would bring sizable economic activity to both nations. Separately, Chancellor Rachel Reeves hosted a business reception in Downing Street for executives from major US and UK financial firms, including BlackRock, Barclays and Blackstone, in a bid to highlight Transatlantic economic cooperation.

The Trump-Starmer pairing arrives amid a cluster of potential flashpoints that could test the durability of the renewed tone. The sacking of Lord Mandelson as UK ambassador in the wake of emails with Jeffrey Epstein has fed into a broader domestic debate about governance and transparency, with Starmer publicly backing Mandelson to stay in place before reversing course after heightened scrutiny. Starmer has argued that staff briefing gaps contributed to the controversy, though he did not fully elucidate why more information was not pursued earlier. The Mandelson affair casts a shadow over the visit as the two leaders discuss the broader U.S.-UK relationship.

Gaza and the broader Middle East were on the agenda, with Starmer calling for renewed efforts to secure peace amid ongoing conflict and humanitarian concerns. The UK position on recognizing Palestine has implications for the alliance with Washington, where policy toward the region remains a matter of serious debate. While Trump has repeatedly championed a tough-on-terror, hardline approach in the region, Starmer sought to balance alliance commitments with a call for restraint and a path toward negotiated outcomes. The two leaders touched on Ukraine as well, with Starmer emphasizing that Putin’s actions do not reflect a desire for peace, a stance the British government has consistently framed as a prerequisite for stability in Europe.

On trade and tariffs, there was expectation that previous American tariffs on steel imports could be eased or removed as part of a broader economic alignment. However, no consensus was announced during the Chequers events, and officials cautioned that some issues remained unresolved. Still, the mood around the economic element of the visit remained focused on creating opportunities for joint projects and investment, with the White House and Downing Street signaling continued dialogue on economic policy and regulatory alignment.

The visit’s ceremonial elements underscored the symbolism of the alliance. The King attended Windsor and met Trump, while the prime minister hosted the US leader at Chequers, with an honor guard and RAF bagpipers forming a formal backdrop to a day that began with a handshake on the steps of the prime minister’s country residence. The visit also included exchanges with other senior ministers, notably Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who held discussions on security, trade and technology policy.

As the day concluded, Starmer faced a balance of applause for signaling stronger transatlantic ties with the political realities at home: a UK opposition seeking to position itself as a reliable partner to the United States, and a US presidency navigating domestic pressures and a media environment that can reward unguarded moments over tightly scripted briefings. The joint appearance at Chequers was positioned as a landmark reaffirmation of alliance potential, even as lingering questions about policy divergence—ranging from Gaza and Palestine to free speech concerns in the UK—remained on the table for future inquiries.