Sir Keir Starmer and Donald Trump have had a turbulent relationship, but that hasn’t prevented the president from sharing his thoughts on what the struggling Prime Minister could do to regain momentum.
At first, the pair seemed to strike up an unexpectedly warm rapport, presenting a united front and suggesting a productive working dynamic.
That friendly tone was cemented during a two-hour dinner at Trump Tower in September 2024, after which Trump described Starmer as “very nice”.
Just five months later, Starmer went further still, using a visit to the Oval Office to extend an unprecedented offer of a second state visit.
Since then, the relationship appears to have cooled significantly, with Trump later making headlines by saying Starmer was ‘no Winston Churchill’.
Tensions between Downing Street and the White House have reportedly grown across several flashpoints, including trade disputes and tariffs, recognition of Palestine, and questions surrounding Greenland’s future.
More recently, Trump is said to have been angered by the UK preventing US forces from using British military bases for operations linked to the Iran War.
During an interview with GB News, Trump was asked why Sir Keir had lost public backing, and he responded by laying out what he believes should be the priorities.
Speaking at the White House before leaving for China, he said: “Well, my advice to him has always been, open up your oil in the North Sea.
“You got one of the great oil finds anywhere in the world, and you’re not using it, they’re not allowed to use it, and it’s one of the best in the world, among the best oils in the world.
“Open up your oil in the North Sea and get tough on immigration.
“Europe is being very, very hurt by immigration all over Europe.”
North Sea drilling remains a politically sensitive issue in the UK, and the government has pushed back against calls to broaden exploration licensing in the region.
Rather than expanding oil and gas activity, ministers have intensified their focus on renewables. The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ed Miliband, said they would “double down, not back down” on their clean power mission.
Immigration is proving just as contentious. Since Sir Keir entered office in July 2024, more than 70,000 people have crossed the Channel in small boats. The anti-immigration Reform party also made major advances in the local elections held on 7 May.