US President Donald Trump has criticized Britain’s post‑Brexit transition as “sloppy”, but asserted the process is “getting straightened out”, ahead of his planned state visit to the UK in September. In a stark departure from the usual praise of Brexit by UK conservatives, Trump delivered his verdict in an Oval Office interview, also expressing unexpected admiration for Labour’s Keir Starmer.
Despite his conservative credentials, Trump remarked, “I really like the prime minister a lot, even though he’s a liberal.” He credited Starmer with successfully negotiating a bilateral trade deal between the UK and the US, saying, “He did a good trade deal with us, which a lot of countries have not been able to do.” This comment places Trump at odds with figures like Boris Johnson, Theresa May, Liz Truss, and Rishi Sunak, all of whom have championed Brexit as a political and economic opportunity.
Nigel Farage, a powerful advocate of Brexit and ally of Trump, meanwhile added his mixed assessment: he declared that “Brexit has failed” and that Britain has “not benefited from Brexit economically.” Worries over Brexit’s fallout align with recent UK polls revealing historically low support for the project. Analysts have noted that the economic benefits long promised by Brexit remain elusive, casting a shadow over the UK’s future trade and growth prospects.
Trump’s praise of Starmer comes amidst preparations for his second state visit to the UK, scheduled for September 17–19. The first-ever second state visit by a sitting US president, Trump, will stay at Windsor Castle with First Lady Melania. The itinerary includes formal events and time with King Charles, but, surprisingly, no address to Parliament.
Downing Street officials confirmed Parliament will be recessed during the visit, coinciding with the annual party conferences, which precludes any opportunity for Trump to speak directly to MPs and peers. “I think let them go and have a good time,” Trump said when pressed if he was disappointed.
Concerning his aims for September, he said simply, “I just want to have a good time and respect King Charles, because he is a great gentleman.”
Trump Toughens Stance on Russia
In the same interview, Trump addressed the deteriorating relationship between the US and Russia. Expressing frustration over delays in brokering peace between Moscow and Kyiv, he said he is “not done” with Putin. He issued a strong warning: “If we don’t have a deal in 50 days… we’re going to be doing secondary tariffs… at 100 percent.” Trump emphasized that this strategy, aimed at Moscow, would be “very severe tariffs,” and he stressed that the US hopes to avoid such action.
Observers say Trump’s stance on Putin signals a hardening line in US foreign policy, one that could influence discussions during his UK visit. The state trip will provide Trump a high-profile platform to polish transatlantic ties, yet his candid criticisms of Brexit and unexpected praise for Starmer mark a striking shift from the usual partisan script.
As Brits prepare for the controversial visit, the trip’s agenda remains under scrutiny. With the traditional speeches to Parliament off the table, Trump plans to focus on diplomacy at royal venues and behind‑the‑scenes talks with Downing Street. While the optics promise pomp and ceremony, the substance may hinge on trade, geopolitics, and Trump’s evolving stance on both the UK and Russia.
Whichever narrative prevails, the visit is already shaping up as a defining moment: a test of Britain’s post‑Brexit identity, an assessment of transatlantic unity under Starmer, and a fresh challenge in Washington’s strategic positioning across Europe and Russia.
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