UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was not snubbed by U.S. President Donald Trump during the G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains [1].
The exchange occurs amid speculation regarding the stability of the special relationship between the UK and the U.S. as both nations navigate differing priorities on global security and military expenditures.
Starmer addressed media reports suggesting he had been deliberately excluded from bilateral discussions with the U.S. president. He denied these reports and said the two leaders get on really well [2].
According to reports, no bilateral meetings were scheduled between Starmer and Trump on Tuesday or Wednesday of the summit [1]. While some reports suggested Starmer was cut out of G7 meetings [3], the prime minister said the lack of a formal meeting did not constitute a diplomatic slight.
Beyond the scheduling of meetings, the prime minister addressed potential friction regarding military budgets. He said that Donald Trump has raised no concerns with me over defence spending [1].
This statement follows ongoing international pressure for NATO members to increase their financial contributions to collective defense. Starmer's assertion suggests a level of alignment between the two leaders on the current UK spending trajectory, at least in private conversations.
Despite the prime minister's positive assessment, some reports indicated tensions between the two men, including an instance where Trump allegedly humiliated Starmer on live television [2]. Starmer did not elaborate on these specific interactions, focusing instead on the overall cordiality of their relationship.
“"I’ve not been snubbed by Trump — we get on really well"”
The discrepancy between Starmer's public comments and media reports of 'snubs' highlights the fragile nature of the UK-US diplomatic image. By explicitly denying friction over defence spending, Starmer is attempting to signal stability to both domestic audiences and NATO allies, ensuring that the UK is not perceived as being at odds with the White House on critical security funding.
