Trump's tirade continues as he insults Royal Navy's "two old broken-down aircraft carriers”
Donald Trump has mocked Sir Keir Starmer for saying he had to ask his team about sending “two old broken-down aircraft carriers” to Iran.
The US president mimicked the Prime Minister using a pathetic-sounding voice to sniggers from the audience at a private Easter lunch, of which a video has now emerged. Mr Trump said Britain “should be our best” ally but had not been.
It is the latest sideswipe the president has made against Sir Keir over his refusal to let Britain be drawn into the Iran conflict. Mr Trump has also previously been critical of the Portsmouth-based aircraft carriers HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Queen Elizabeth, which he dismissed as “toys” that “aren’t the best”.
Earlier this week, US defence secretary Pete Hegseth rounded on the UK for failing to send warships to the region, saying “last time I checked there was supposed to be a big, bad Royal Navy that could be prepared to do things like that as well”.
Speaking at the White House lunch, Mr Trump said: “I asked (the) UK who should be our best.
“In fact the King is coming over here in two weeks, he’s a nice guy, King Charles.
“But should be our best but they weren’t our best.
“I said ‘you have two, old broken-down aircraft carriers, do you think you could send them over’?”
Impersonating Sir Keir with a weak voice, Mr Trump added: “Ohhh I’ll have to ask my team.
“I said ‘you’re the Prime Minister, you don’t have to’.
“No, no, no, I have to ask my team. My team has to meet, we’re meeting next week.
“But the war already started. Next week the war’s going to be over… in three days.”
The conflict has strained transatlantic tensions, with the US president frequently lambasting Britain and other allies over their reluctance to being drawn into the fighting. As a result, he has said he is considering whether to pull the US out of Nato.