Starmer and Trump Talk!

President Trump and Prime Minister Starmer spoke by phone on Sunday. And from all reports, they get on like the proverbial 'house on fire'. This is always the way between British prime ministers and American presidents. Churchill and Roosevelt, Thatcher and Reagan, Major and Bush senior, Blair and Bush junior, Cameron and Obama, etc. The UK and the US have always enjoyed a close relationship. So why would Trump and Starmer be any different?

Well, people in Starmer's administration have in the past, mocked Trump. For example, Foreign Secretary David Lammy called Trump a "Fascist sympathiser". West Streeting Health Secretary called Trump an "Odious, sad, little man". Ed Milliband called him a "Serial groper".

Elon Musk appointed Trump's Business Organiser has fallen out with Starmer on X. Peter Mandelson appointed British ambassador to the US and has been mocked by a Trump campaigner as "A moron".

So it is clear, the two administrations didn't get off to the best of starts. However, now the Trump and Starmer administrations are in power, they must overcome their differences. When Starmer and Trump first met last year over lunch David Lammy and Vice-President JD Vance found they had much in common. Both are Christians and working class, so that's their common ground!

Indeed, there is a photo of the two men embracing. Lammy has even gone as far as to say they are like "two peas in a pod". Trump and Starmer have spoken by phone a few times and despite political differences, they got on.

So what was their conversation on Sunday? Well, Sir Keir congratulated the President on his inauguration. Praised Trump on the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Trump paid his condolences for the death of Keir's brother on Boxing Day.

Trump and Sir Keir spoke about meeting at some point, either in the US or the UK. Trump said his first international visit could be to KSA (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) or the UK. Trump said it might be KSA if they purchase American merchandise. This was the case, as Trump admitted, the first time he visited KSA. Being a businessman by trade there is nothing remarkable about this. Money motivates men like Trump and this chimes in with putting America first. It's not a question of being disloyal to the UK. Trump is running the US economy like a business to bring investment into the US. So if Trump visits KSA because they have purchased American goods, it is only natural.

Trump has expressed his wish to see Palestinians cleared out of Gaza and taken to Arab countries. Perhaps out of compassion as he has described Gaza as looking like a "demolition site". Of course, Trump is correct but are his words based on real compassion or the fact he has in the past backed Israel. Relations with Prime Minister Netanyahu are rumoured to be in the garbage though.

KSA will not want Palestinians coming to the Kingdom. One is because it doesn't want Hamas-like organisations springing up. And two, it supports Gazans staying where they are. If they left they may not be able to return. And, it would end any notion of Palestinian independence. Also, Jared Kushner an American Jew and Trump's son-in-law has spoken about beachfront houses in Gaza. Even Trump has said more or less the same thing. You can bet your bottom Dollar it wouldn't be Palestinians living there!

Also, President Sisi of Egypt and the Jordanian King have dismissed such notions. Like Saudi Arabia, they will not want Hamas or similar organisations operating on their land. Also, if a million Palestinians left they may not be able to return.

On Air Force One, Trump admitted there were differences between the two men. Trump spoke about Keir's liberal philosophy and said that was the difference between them. However, the president said Sir Keir had stood up for his country and was quote: "Doing a great job" so far.