President Donald Trump took a sharp jab at Britain on Saturday, labeling the nation a “once great ally” while voicing intense frustration with the left-wing Labour government in London. The critique stems from Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s initial refusal to permit U.S. forces to use British bases for the ongoing conflict in Iran.
The “special relationship” between the United Kingdom and the United States has faced significant strain as Starmer’s administration was notably outpaced by France in delivering swift military responses. While reports indicate that the HMS Prince of Wales is finally preparing for deployment to the Middle East, the President made it clear he was unimpressed by the timing.
In a scathing post on Truth Social, President Trump ridiculed the belated British response, suggesting that the U.S. had already secured the necessary momentum without London’s early assistance.
“The United Kingdom, our once Great Ally… is finally giving serious thought to sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East,” Trump wrote. “That’s OK, Prime Minister Starmer, we don’t need them any longer — But we will remember. We don’t need people that join Wars after we’ve already won!”
Former British Prime Minister Liz Truss echoed these sentiments, describing Trump’s comments as “justified and damning.” Although Starmer eventually backtracked to allow U.S. access to bases for “defensive” actions, the shift has done little to repair ties with the White House.
During a recent Oval Office meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, President Trump reportedly mocked Starmer’s legalistic approach to military requests. Trump pointed out that Starmer, a former human rights lawyer, seemed more concerned with international law than the responsibility to protect citizens from Iran-supported terrorism.
“This is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with,” Trump remarked.
Relations have further soured due to Starmer’s decision to cede control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. Trump has condemned the move—which jeopardizes the strategically vital UK-U.S. base on Diego Garcia—as a “blight” on Britain’s reputation and a symptom of “wokeism.”