UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said his personal connection with US President Donald Trump helped him secure a trade deal that removed British industries from some US tariffs.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Political Thinking programme on the first anniversary of the Labour government, Starmer said that although he and Trump come from “different political backgrounds,” they have found common ground.
“We are different people and we’ve got different political backgrounds and leanings, but we do have a good relationship and that comes from a number of places,” he said.
Starmer racing to pick up the papers Trump dropped illustrates the relationship https://t.co/LIJsr7hYTV
— Scott Greer 6’2” IQ 187 (@ScottMGreer) June 16, 2025
Starmer said the connection is based in part on shared values. “For both of us, we really care about family and there’s a point of connection there,” he told BBC Radio. “I think I do understand what anchors the president, what he really cares about.”
He revealed that Trump had called to offer condolences after the death of Starmer’s younger brother, Nick, on Boxing Day. The two had last spoken when Starmer phoned Trump following the assassination attempt during a campaign rally in July last year.
“That was a phone call really to ask him how it was, and in particular I wanted to know how it impacted on his family,” Starmer said.
The prime minister said his personal relationship with Trump had helped him reach a deal that eased concerns in British industries. He described a visit to Jaguar Land Rover in Solihull before the agreement, saying he had seen “anxiety writ large” on the faces of factory workers. After the deal, he said, “the relief was palpable.”
Starmer also spoke about discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron, which he said helped lay the groundwork for a new agreement with the European Union. “Over a glass of wine on the train to Kyiv, we talked about some of the key elements. That led to an agreement that will lower food prices in British supermarkets,” he said.
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“Building those relationships with international leaders is hugely important,” he told BBC Radio, adding that such efforts are “always in the national interest.”
Asked about recent political challenges, including Labour’s concessions to avoid a rebellion over disability benefit reforms, Starmer said he accepted responsibility. “It’s been a tough few days,” he said. “But we’ll come through this stronger.”
Starmer is expected to meet Macron again next week during the French president’s state visit to the UK. Tackling small boat crossings in the English Channel will be a key point of discussion, with government data showing nearly 20,000 arrivals in the first half of this year a 48 per cent rise compared to the same period last year.