Trump urges Starmer to deploy military to ‘stop’ illegal migration

US President Donald Trump has described the US-UK relationship as an “unbreakable bond”.

At a business roundtable as part of his engagements with British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Trump on Thursday said that they were pursuing a mutually beneficial relationship. He went on to describe the US-UK relationship “a beautiful inheritance” that would not break.

Trump said, “The ties between our countries are priceless, and it’s really a beautiful inheritance. Today we’re making those ties closer than ever before. We’ve done some things that financially are great for both countries. I think it’s an unbreakable bond we have regardless of what we’re doing today. I think it’s unbreakable.”

Starmer described the US-UK relationship as the “very foundation of our security, our freedom and our prosperity”.

“There’s so much to celebrate in this special relationship between our two countries,” Starmer added.

Trump urges Starmer to use military to ‘stop’ illegal migration

Donald Trump has urged UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to take a hard-line approach to tackling illegal immigration, suggesting the use of military force if necessary.

Speaking about the issue, Trump said illegal immigration was one of the key reasons he first ran for the US presidency and claimed he had “got illegal immigration into the US down to zero.” He added: “I told Starmer to stop it. They could use the military, but it doesn’t matter how – you have to stop it.”

Starmer, responding to the challenge, said the problem extended beyond Britain and was being felt across Europe. He highlighted that the UK had stepped up its deportation efforts, saying: “There have been 35,000 returns now – the highest number for years.”

The Prime Minister also pointed to new arrangements with France, announcing that the first removal flight under the deal took off at 6:15 a.m. today, carrying one migrant back across the Channel. He described it as “proof of concept,” demonstrating that the policy can be implemented effectively.

Trump says Putin has ‘let me down’  

President Trump admitted on Thursday that his efforts to end the war in Ukraine have so far yielded little progress, conceding that Russian President Vladimir Putin has “let me down.”

The candid remark came after a string of high-profile summits last month — including talks with Putin in Alaska and a White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders, failed to produce a breakthrough.

Trump, however, insisted that he remained confident of an eventual resolution.

“Russia and Ukraine will get done, but you never know in war,” he said. “War is a different thing. Things happen that are very opposite of what you thought. You thought you were going to have an easy time or a hard time and it turns out to be the reverse.”

Trump says Charlie Kirk ‘could have been president’

President Donald Trump paid tribute to slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk during a joint press conference with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday, saying he believed Kirk had the potential to become an American president.

“I’ve never seen anybody relate to youth like Charlie, and they related to him and they’re devastated,” Trump said, highlighting Kirk’s influence among young voters.

The president also thanked “the many British citizens who have offered their condolences,” noting the wave of sympathy expressed during his state visit.

Kirk, a prominent right-wing figure and founder of Turning Point USA, was killed earlier this week in Utah, an event that has intensified concerns about political violence in the United States.

Trump & Starmer sign deals worth $340 billion

After a day of regal welcome and royal banquet, Trump has arrived at the Chequers, Starmer’s country residence, on the second day of his state visit to get down to business. Trade and tariffs, the Russian war on Ukraine, and the situation in the Gaza Strip are likely to dominate their discussions.

Trump and Starmer signed the ‘Tech Prosperity Deal’ under which US tech pledged investments to the tune of $42 billion in the United Kingdom. Starmer said that these deals and investments “break all records” so far.

“What a day — £250 billion ($340 billion) flowing both ways across the Atlantic. It is the biggest investment package of its kind in British history by a country mile. So, thank you so much for your contribution on your part in that as the embodiment of that special relationship,” Starmer further said.

High-stakes diplomacy in Trump-Starmer talks

Ahead of their meeting, British media reported that Starmer would focus on the Russian aggression against Europe and the Israeli war in Gaza in talks with Trump. Russian aerial incursions into Nato members’ airspaces may also be part of the discussion.

Starmer was said to focus on persuading Trump to take stronger action against Russia for its refusal to agree to a ceasefire in the war with Ukraine or hold serious peace talks. In the wake of Trump’s mediation, instead of coming to the negotiating table, Russia has ramped up attacks and has gone beyond Ukraine to mount aerial incursions into Polish and Romanian airspaces.

While Trump has pleased Europe lately by calling Russia the “aggressor” and clearing the first arms package under a Nato-led procurement programme, Starmer and Trump may not find middle ground on Gaza where they have completely different positions.

While Starmer is under pressure from his party and constituents to push Trump to press Israel to come to the negotiating table, Trump has supported Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the hilt — and his own proposal to occupy Gaza has essentially killed the two-state solution . On his part, Starmer has committed to the two-state solution and will reportedly recognise the Palestinian statehood as early as this weekend.

The Trump administration has dubbed the recognition of Palestinian state as rewarding terrorism.