What's happened
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with Donald Trump at Trump Tower during his visit for the UN General Assembly. The meeting aimed to foster relations ahead of the upcoming US presidential election, amidst concerns about Trump's potential return to power.
Why it matters
What the papers say
The Mirror reported that Starmer emphasized the importance of calling out Trump's controversial statements, while The Independent highlighted Starmer's belief in personal relations on the international stage. The South China Morning Post noted the potential awkwardness given past criticisms from Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy. Sky News pointed out that this meeting is crucial for establishing a relationship ahead of the election, reflecting the need for diplomacy in uncertain political times.
How we got here
Starmer's meeting with Trump follows a history of criticism from the Labour Party towards the former president. With the US election approaching, establishing a working relationship has become a priority for the UK government.
More on these topics
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Kamala Devi Harris is an American attorney and politician who has served as the junior United States Senator from California since 2017.
-
David Lindon Lammy PC FRSA is a British Labour Party politician serving as Member of Parliament for Tottenham since 2000, and has served as Shadow Secretary of State for Justice and Shadow Lord Chancellor in Keir Starmer's Shadow Cabinet since 2020.
-
Nigel Paul Farage is a British politician. He has been leader of the Brexit Party since 2019, and served as Member of the European Parliament for South East England from 1999 until the United Kingdom's exit from the EU in 2020.