The US president-elect’s inner circle reportedly considers Keir Starmer to be “irrelevant” and “not a priority”.
Incoming US President Donald Trump could sideline British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, placing him “at the end of the queue” of world leaders invited to Washington, following accusations of Labor Party meddling in the US elections.
According to Mail on Sunday sources, Starmer “I have to eat humble pie” to secure a meeting at the White House. In an article published on Saturday, the newspaper reported that Trump’s advisers are considering measures to snub Starmer, including rejecting Labor great Lord Mandelson’s candidacy for UK ambassador to Washington because of his alleged links to China.
Some of Trump’s allies reportedly see Nigel Farage as a possible successor to Starmer, with the newspaper describing the move as “revenge” for Labor actions. Farage is expected to attend Trump’s inauguration on Monday, along with former prime ministers Liz Truss and Boris Johnson.
During the 2024 US presidential election, Labor chief operating officer Sofia Patel posted an appeal on LinkedIn encouraging party staff to campaign for Kamala Harris in key swing states. Reports suggest nearly 100 Labor workers were involved in the effort, which has drawn harsh criticism from Trump’s team. In response, Trump allies filed a formal complaint with the Federal Election Commission, alleging foreign interference.
An anonymous Trump ally, speaking to the Mail on Sunday, condemned Labour’s actions as “electoral interference, plain and simple.” They added, “Who the hell do these people think they are? “Trump’s view is that what is happening here is none of his business and they should have stayed out of it.” The source noted that the Labor Party’s efforts left “a bad taste in the mouth” for Trump and his team.
Another informant indicated that Trump has strong contacts in the United Kingdom and prefers to operate through non-traditional routes, which “It suits him very well.” They dismissed Starmer as “irrelevant” and suggested that although a meeting could eventually be held, “optics are more important” to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom than to Trump.
A Downing Road source played down the tensions and said: “Neither Sir Keir nor No 10 are too stressed about when they will come out.” Government experts confirmed that “constructive” Talks are underway with Trump’s team to arrange Starmer’s visit to Washington. Speaking to Monetary Occasions, Starmer emphasized his efforts to build a “constructive” relationship with Trump, expressing optimism that this would help protect the UK from potential punitive trade tariffs.
Trump, who will be inaugurated on Monday, is reportedly considering a second state visit to the United Kingdom. Insiders suggest he could bypass the British government by appealing directly to the Present Family. If granted, it would make Trump the first elected politician in modern history to receive two state visits, following his 2019 trip hosted by the late Queen.
