From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.
Read more
Health secretary Wes Streeting has stressed that the NHS is “not on the table” in any US trade deal, and that it is “not up for grabs”.
It comes after Donald Trump said he had “great discussions on trade” with Sir Keir Starmer and expressed confidence that a deal could be reached “rather quickly”.
The US president said the two countries have a “very good chance” at arriving at a good deal, adding “the people are working on it… it could be terrific for both countries”.
“I think we’ll have two deals,” he said, “a deal on ending the war [in Ukraine] and a great trade deal with you [the UK]”.
Mr Trump praised Sir Keir as “a tough negotiator” – but the prime minister failed to secure key concessions over Ukraine in critical White House talks.
Sir Keir opened his talks with Mr Trump with a charm offensive, delivering an unprecedented second royal invitation for a state visit, which the US president readily accepted.
However, the president fudged his response when Sir Keir asked for a commitment of more US military support for security in Ukraine if a peace deal with Russia was agreed upon. The prime minister later said they had discussed a Ukraine peace deal that would be tough and fair.
Donald Trump should be judged on what he does “not simply on what he says”, a Cabinet minster has said.
Wes Streeting told Sky News that the US president will “slam his position down on the table” but will then work through issues.
The Health Secretary said: “President Trump is someone that needs to be judged on what he does, not simply on what he says.
“If I think about what he’s said in the past about Nato and European defence for example, he did it in a characteristically robust way, but the fundamental point he was making about Europe, including the UK, having to pay our way and pay our fair share for our continent’s own security was actually a fair challenge.
“He put it in his characteristically robust way – he’ll kind of slam his position down on the table to grab people’s attention and show he’s serious – but then he’ll work with people through the issues.”
(AP)
Holly Evans28 February 2025 08:26
The NHS is “not on the table” in any US trade deal, Health Secretary Wes Streeting has said.
Speaking to Sky News after Sir Keir Starmer’s visit to Washington on Thursday, Mr Streeting said: “The NHS is not up for grabs and is not on the table in the context of trade.
“But there are a number of areas where we can and should work together to deepen the trading relationship between our two countries.”
Mr Streeting said he was “excited” by Donald Trump’s apparent enthusiasm for the trading relationship with the UK, but warned “hard yards” are ahead to get any deal completed.
“My friend the Business and Trade Secretary (Jonathan Reynolds) was keen to remind me and colleagues last night that the warmth and enthusiasm is the bit to get the ball rolling but the hard yards are still ahead.
“As we know about President Trump, he is a hard-headed businessman and he’s not a pushover and – as we heard from President Trump, so don’t take my word for it as a loyal Cabinet minister – our Prime Minister is a tough negotiator as well.
“So the hard yards on this are ahead but we do want to make progress. We want to do that quickly. We genuinely think there’s a lot in it for both the UK and the US and our collective economic security.”
Holly Evans28 February 2025 08:09
Donald Trump is right that a US presence in Ukraine as a result of a minerals deal would deter further attacks from Russia, a Cabinet minister has suggested.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting told Sky News that the US has been the “backstop as well as the bedrock” of European security since Nato was founded.
“I think there are two things here. One is that I think President Trump is right about the US’s interests and presence in Ukraine acting as a deterrent.
“And secondly the United States has always – since Nato was founded – it has always been the backstop as well as the bedrock of European defence and security for Britain, and for the continent as well because of the shared commitments that we have through the Nato alliance.”
Asked whether more than the minerals deal was needed for security in Ukraine, Mr Streeting added: “This is a fast-moving situation and we’ve been clear throughout we will back Ukraine to the hilt, and there can be no decision about Ukraine without Ukraine.
“That’s why President Zelensky’s visit today is going to be particularly important but I think we’ve seen real signs of progress in recent weeks.”
Donald Trump and Sir Keir Starmer discussed European security and peace in Ukraine (Carl Court/PA) (PA Wire)
Holly Evans28 February 2025 07:58
Wes Streeting said he is sure some people will disagree with Donald Trump making another state visit to the UK, but “in doing so, they are exercising the very freedom and democracy that we are committed to defending with President Trump”.
Asked on GB News if he was wrong in 2017 to sign – and urge other people to sign and share – a petition to prevent Donald Trump from making a state visit to the United Kingdom, the Health Secretary said: “Well, I definitely won’t be doing that this time.”
Mr Streeting said: “People I’m sure will disagree with it in some parts of the country, people may even exercise their right to voice their disagreement and protest, but people should not forget that in doing so they are exercising the very freedom and democracy that we are committed to defending with President Trump.
“So if people enjoy Britain’s freedom and democracy, as I think we do, we’ve got to make sure we defend it, and the relationship with the United States and the relationship with President Trump is absolutely critical to defending that freedom of speech, that right to take part in elections and democracy.
“The freedoms that we’ve taken for granted, to be honest, over many years now, it’s fragile, and we need to defend it, and that’s why the relationship between Keir Starmer and President Trump, between the United Kingdom and the United States is absolutely essential for Britain’s economic and national security.”
Donald Trump holds a letter from Britain’s King Charles inviting him for a state visit (REUTERS)
Holly Evans28 February 2025 07:52
Speaking on GB News, Wes Streeting said the meeting between Donald Trump and Sir Keir Starmer showed “warmth and enthusiasm”.
“The final thing, which certainly took took me by surprise, although I think there’s been lots of work on the part of my colleagues going on behind the scenes, was the warmth and enthusiasm that the president showed in terms of improving the trading relationship between our two countries.
“Now, look, warmth and friendship is really good and really encouraging.“My friend the Business and Trade Secretary (Jonathan Reynolds) would say the hard yards are still to come in trade negotiations – we know that President Trump is a tough negotiator; President Trump said yesterday our Prime Minister is a tough negotiator.
“So there are hard yards ahead but a great start to what is going to be an absolutely defining relationship between the president and our Prime Minister, because Britain and America, I mean, this is the most important alliance for our country, it is the bedrock on which our national security is built and Britain’s economic security is built as well. So a really important moment.”
Holly Evans28 February 2025 07:46
Speaking on Sky News, health secretary Wes Streeting said that Sir Keir Starmer had “delivered” what he promised during his meeting with Donald Trump.
Asked about the meeting, he said: “What is delivering at home, this is also a prime minister delivering abroad.”
He added that the meeting had been “crucial” for both UK national interests, Ukraine and the collective defence of Europe, saying: “What we saw was the prime minister deliver what he said he would.
“We could see the strength of the personal relationship he has built with President Trump which is absolutely crucial.”
He added that the conversations regarding a Ukraine peace deal had shown “really encouraging signs of progress”.
Holly Evans28 February 2025 07:26
Maroosha Muzaffar28 February 2025 07:15
Sir Keir Starmer will welcome Volodymyr Zelensky to Downing Street this weekend as he follows up his visit to see Donald Trump with efforts to bridge the gap between the US and Europe over a potential deal to end the Ukraine war.
Leaders from across Europe will gather in London on Sunday, following a week which will have seen Sir Keir, France’s Emmanuel Macron and the Ukrainian president travel for talks with Mr Trump.
The US President continues to resist calls to fully commit American military might to guarantee any Ukraine peace deal, but he has suggested closer economic ties and an agreement on mineral access between Kyiv and Washington would effectively act as a security “backstop”.
Sir Keir returned to the UK following a trip to the White House which went as well as No 10 could have hoped, with Mr Trump clearly pleased with the King’s invitation for an unprecedented second state visit, giving an indication that he would not block the Chagos Islands deal and suggesting a trade deal could spare British exports from US tariffs.
Sunday’s intensive diplomatic activity will see Mr Zelensky and Italy’s Giorgia Meloni separately visit No 10, the Prime Minister chair a call with the Baltic countries – Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia – before hosting the summit of European leaders.
Mr Zelensky, Mr Macron and Ms Meloni have been invited to the summit along with leaders from Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Turkey, Finland, Sweden, the Czech Republic and Romania, as well as the Nato secretary general and the presidents of the European Commission and European Council.
Holly Evans28 February 2025 07:12
Starmer clashes with Vance over vice president’s attack on Europe’s free speech
Sir Keir Starmer appeared to clash with US Vice President JD Vance over his previous attack on Europe’s free speech. America’s relationship with Europe was brought up during Sir Keir’s White House meeting with Donald Trump on Thursday (27 February). Speaking at the Munich Security Conference earlier this. month, Mr Vance accused European governments – including the UK’s, of retreating from their values and ignoring voter concerns on migration and free speech. Mr Vance said US and Europe relations would be discussed at lunch, before he was interrupted by the UK Prime Minister, who told him: “We have had free speech in the United Kingdom for a long time.”
Jane Dalton28 February 2025 07:00
British prime minister Keir Starmer reaffirmed his support for a two-state solution, calling it “ultimately the only way for a lasting peace in the region”.
He was responding to the question about Donald Trump’s widely condemned proposal for a US takeover of Gaza and the permanent displacement of Palestinians.
Israel’s military assault on Gaza has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians since October 2023, according to Gaza’s health ministry, and has led to accusations of genocide and war crimes, which Israel denies.
Maroosha Muzaffar28 February 2025 06:30