What's happened
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to meet Donald Trump at Trump Tower, aiming to establish a relationship with the Republican presidential candidate. This meeting comes as Starmer also seeks to engage with Democratic candidate Kamala Harris before the upcoming US elections in November.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Mirror, Starmer emphasized the importance of personal relationships in international politics, stating, "I think it really matters that you know who your counterpart is in any given country." Meanwhile, BBC News highlighted the political tension within Labour, noting Home Office Minister Angela Eagle's remarks about Trump's impact on racism in the UK, which the Trump campaign dismissed as irrelevant. This contrast illustrates the complexities Starmer faces in navigating his party's views while engaging with Trump.
How we got here
Starmer's desire to meet both Trump and Harris follows his previous phone conversation with Trump after an assassination attempt against the former president in July. The Prime Minister's meetings are part of his strategy to strengthen ties with US leaders ahead of the elections.
More on these topics
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Kamala Devi Harris is an American attorney and politician who has served as the junior United States Senator from California since 2017.
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Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
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Sir Keir Rodney Starmer KCB QC MP is a British politician and former lawyer who has served as Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition since 2020. He has been Member of Parliament for Holborn and St Pancras since 2015.
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The United Nations General Assembly is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations, serving as the main deliberative, policy-making, and representative organ of the UN.