Washington / LondonU.S. President Donald Trump has reportedly described British Prime Minister Keir Starmer as “a loser” in private conversations with friends, signaling a sharp deterioration in relations between Washington and London amid growing tensions over the war with Iran.
According to reports, Trump made the remark during a private dinner in recent weeks, telling associates that he believes Starmer “has no future anymore.” The language marks a dramatic shift from earlier comments in which the U.S. president had described the British leader as a “winner.”
The apparent rift comes as disagreements deepen over the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. Trump has criticized the British government for what he views as insufficient support for military operations against Tehran.
Speaking at the White House earlier this week, Trump said Starmer was “not Winston Churchill,” accusing the British leader of damaging relationships with allies. He also attacked the UK government’s immigration and energy policies, urging Britain to expand oil and gas production in the North Sea.
The dispute intensified after Britain initially refused U.S. requests to use the strategic military base on Diego Garcia, located in the Chagos Islands, for strikes connected to the Iran conflict. British officials cited international legal concerns when declining the request.
Downing Street later reversed the decision, allowing limited U.S. missions from the base for what it described as “specific and defensive purposes.” However, Trump said the delay had already strained cooperation between the two longtime allies.
The disagreement has also spilled into a broader debate over Britain’s plan to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while leasing back Diego Garcia for military use. Trump criticized the arrangement as a “very woke thing” and withdrew his support for the deal.
Relations between the two leaders had previously appeared warm. After meeting in New York before the U.S. election, Trump praised Starmer for running a “great race,” and following a meeting at the White House earlier this year he said the pair had “gotten off to an outstanding start.”
The latest remarks suggest that goodwill has faded as strategic disagreements over the Iran conflict and military cooperation grow more visible.
Political analysts say the escalating rhetoric highlights the strain on the historic alliance between the United States and the United Kingdom as the Middle East crisis continues to unfold.
