Former U.S. President Donald Trump had a two-hour dinner on Thursday with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in New York, and reportedly praised the “popular” British leader, though it’s widely seen as Trump trolling Starmer.
Despite Trump’s positive remarks, the Prime Minister has recently seen his approval ratings plummet after coming to power.
Many speculate that Trump’s comments were intended to mock Starmer, whose popularity has taken a sharp decline since becoming Prime Minister.
Trump reportedly complimented Starmer on running a “great” election campaign before their first meeting at Trump Tower.
According to The Telegraph, the meeting was requested by Starmer, who is eager to build relations with Trump ahead of the U.S. presidential election in November.
This comes at a time when Starmer is facing internal dissent within his Labour Party and dealing with a series of missteps that have further damaged his standing.
One of Starmer’s most significant blunders occurred recently when, during a discussion about the conflict in the Middle East, he mistakenly called for the return of Israeli “sausages” instead of “hostages” from Gaza.
The error drew comparisons to similar verbal missteps often associated with U.S. President Joe Biden and further eroded Starmer’s credibility during an already challenging period.
Starmer’s approval ratings have seen a dramatic fall in recent months. A new poll by More in Common revealed that the Prime Minister now has a net approval rating of -27, a drop of 38 points since July.
This is comparable to the -28 net approval rating suffered by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak when he was forced to call a general election earlier in the year.
The timing of Starmer’s drop in approval is particularly damaging, as it follows the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, which was supposed to shore up support for the party.
Adding to Starmer’s difficulties is the ongoing controversy surrounding donations from Lord Alli, which has caused further tension within Labour ranks.
Luke Tryl, the director of More in Common, commented on the situation, saying, “After some tough headlines this week, the Starmer slide in approval has continued.”
Meanwhile, Starmer is facing criticism over his decision to cut winter fuel subsidies for retirees, an unpopular move that has sparked public outcry.
Prominent figures like Brexit advocate Nigel Farage have taken the opportunity to criticize the Prime Minister, arguing that the UK should reduce funding for the World Health Organization (WHO) and instead prioritize domestic needs, such as providing financial support to retirees for heating during the winter months.
Farage specifically called on the government to redirect the annual £200 million ($267 million) the UK sends to the WHO, suggesting that funds would be better spent on helping British pensioners.
The timing of this political turmoil has made Starmer’s position more precarious, with Trump’s remarks during their meeting only adding to the speculation surrounding Starmer’s leadership and future as Prime Minister.
