Trump and Starmer's meeting: A 'brotherly camaraderie' on the surface, but hidden tensions over energy and taxation.
2025-07-29 08:49:10
US President Trump and British Prime Minister Starmer held a highly anticipated meeting at Turnberry Golf Club in Scotland on Monday (July 28). This meeting not only demonstrated the deep foundation of the "special relationship" between the UK and the US, but also exposed the significant differences between the two on energy policy, tax reform and immigration. The two sat side by side, and in the 72-minute media question and answer session, there were both enthusiastic mutual praise and tit-for-tat policy confrontations. Below, we will analyze the wonderful details of this meeting in detail and take you into this fascinating and controversial international dialogue.
In the banquet hall of Turnberry Golf Club, Trump kicked off the meeting in his usual straightforward style. He enthusiastically praised the "special relationship" between Britain and the United States, and expressed deep affection for British Prime Minister Starmer, King Charles of the United Kingdom, and his mother's Scottish hometown. Trump's words were full of personal praise. He called Starmer "very supportive, very strong, and very respected." He even admitted that after meeting Starmer's wife and family, he respected the British Prime Minister "more than ever before." He also specifically mentioned that Starmer's wife was "flawless", revealing rare warmth in his words.
Starmer responded to this enthusiasm in a lighthearted and humorous way. He thanked Trump for his hospitality and praised the magnificent view of Turnberry Golf Course. Starmer also jokingly invited Trump to the football field and suggested that the two "exchange some sports", which added a bit of lightness to this serious meeting. The interaction between the two in front of the media showed a superficial harmony and friendship, which made people look forward to the future of Anglo-American relations.
However, behind the warm greetings, the differences between Trump and Starmer on policy issues gradually surfaced. Trump bluntly expressed his concerns about Starmer's energy, immigration and tax policies. He specifically mentioned that the UK should make more use of its abundant oil and gas resources instead of over-relying on renewable energy. Trump fiercely criticized the offshore wind turbines distributed on the coast near Turnberry Golf Course, calling them "a disaster" that is not only costly but also destroys the beauty of the coastline. He even said that this "expensive and ugly" energy is "never allowed to be used" in the United States.
Starmer responded calmly but firmly, emphasizing that the UK is committed to developing a "mixed energy system" and that wind power, a core component of its carbon-free energy plan, is far from the "disaster" Trump has described it as. While the two discussed the potential of small nuclear reactors on energy issues, their overall positions were diametrically opposed, highlighting the deep differences between the UK and the US on the path to energy transition.
On the issue of taxation and immigration, Trump also made no secret of his position. He reiterated the key role of tax cuts and economic stimulus policies in his victory in the 2024 US election, and hinted that Starmer's performance on immigration policy failed to win public approval. Trump regards immigration control as an important pillar of his political success, while Starmer appears to be more cautious on this issue, and the two sides failed to reach a clear consensus in the talks.
The most explosive moment of the meeting came when Trump criticized Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London. Trump bluntly said that Sadiq Khan was "doing a terrible job" in managing London and even described him as a "nasty person." This sharp comment triggered an immediate rebuttal from Starmer. As a political ally of Sadiq Khan, Starmer firmly stated: "I have to add that he is my friend." Trump did not give in and continued to reiterate his dissatisfaction with Sadiq Khan, calling his performance "very bad." This episode not only exposed the differences in the political philosophies of the two leaders, but also added a dramatic confrontational color to the meeting.
In addition to discussing bilateral relations, Trump and Starmer also exchanged views on a range of global affairs. They set a new deadline for Russia to cease fire in the Ukrainian conflict, showing the two countries' common concerns about international security issues. In addition, the two sides announced that they would establish a food center to alleviate the growing hunger crisis in the Gaza Strip. The discussion of these topics demonstrated the potential for cooperation between the United Kingdom and the United States on the global stage, but also further highlighted the two people's different ideas on specific policy implementation.
The meeting, held at the Turnberry Golf Club, was not only a vivid display of the "special relationship" between the United Kingdom and the United States, but also a microcosm of the differences between the two leaders in terms of policy concepts. With his signature frankness and charm, Trump tried to get closer to Starmer through enthusiastic praise; while Starmer responded with humor and calmness, showing the demeanor of a mature politician. However, from energy policy to tax reform to the evaluation of the mayor of London, the conversation between the two was always mixed with irreconcilable contradictions. These differences not only reflect the different priorities of the United Kingdom and the United States in the current global environment, but also cast a layer of uncertainty on the direction of future bilateral cooperation.
Impact on the British Pound
The trend of the pound may be affected by the UK's energy policy and economic confidence. Trump criticized the UK's offshore wind power plan and urged more development of traditional energy, which is contrary to Starmer's carbon-free energy strategy. If the market believes that the UK may adjust its energy policy under pressure from the US, resulting in a slowdown in renewable energy investment, it may weaken the UK's attractiveness in the green economy and put short-term downward pressure on the pound. In addition, Trump's criticism of London Mayor Sadiq Khan may cause domestic political uncertainty in the UK, indirectly affecting the market's confidence in the stability of the UK economy. However, since the meeting did not directly involve the pound exchange rate or monetary policy, the impact may be relatively mild, more reflected in market sentiment fluctuations rather than substantive shocks.
Enthusiastic opening: Trump praises the "special relationship"
In the banquet hall of Turnberry Golf Club, Trump kicked off the meeting in his usual straightforward style. He enthusiastically praised the "special relationship" between Britain and the United States, and expressed deep affection for British Prime Minister Starmer, King Charles of the United Kingdom, and his mother's Scottish hometown. Trump's words were full of personal praise. He called Starmer "very supportive, very strong, and very respected." He even admitted that after meeting Starmer's wife and family, he respected the British Prime Minister "more than ever before." He also specifically mentioned that Starmer's wife was "flawless", revealing rare warmth in his words.
Starmer responded to this enthusiasm in a lighthearted and humorous way. He thanked Trump for his hospitality and praised the magnificent view of Turnberry Golf Course. Starmer also jokingly invited Trump to the football field and suggested that the two "exchange some sports", which added a bit of lightness to this serious meeting. The interaction between the two in front of the media showed a superficial harmony and friendship, which made people look forward to the future of Anglo-American relations.
Policy clash: Energy and taxation face off
However, behind the warm greetings, the differences between Trump and Starmer on policy issues gradually surfaced. Trump bluntly expressed his concerns about Starmer's energy, immigration and tax policies. He specifically mentioned that the UK should make more use of its abundant oil and gas resources instead of over-relying on renewable energy. Trump fiercely criticized the offshore wind turbines distributed on the coast near Turnberry Golf Course, calling them "a disaster" that is not only costly but also destroys the beauty of the coastline. He even said that this "expensive and ugly" energy is "never allowed to be used" in the United States.
Starmer responded calmly but firmly, emphasizing that the UK is committed to developing a "mixed energy system" and that wind power, a core component of its carbon-free energy plan, is far from the "disaster" Trump has described it as. While the two discussed the potential of small nuclear reactors on energy issues, their overall positions were diametrically opposed, highlighting the deep differences between the UK and the US on the path to energy transition.
On the issue of taxation and immigration, Trump also made no secret of his position. He reiterated the key role of tax cuts and economic stimulus policies in his victory in the 2024 US election, and hinted that Starmer's performance on immigration policy failed to win public approval. Trump regards immigration control as an important pillar of his political success, while Starmer appears to be more cautious on this issue, and the two sides failed to reach a clear consensus in the talks.
London mayoral race: Trump's criticism and Starmer's defence
The most explosive moment of the meeting came when Trump criticized Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London. Trump bluntly said that Sadiq Khan was "doing a terrible job" in managing London and even described him as a "nasty person." This sharp comment triggered an immediate rebuttal from Starmer. As a political ally of Sadiq Khan, Starmer firmly stated: "I have to add that he is my friend." Trump did not give in and continued to reiterate his dissatisfaction with Sadiq Khan, calling his performance "very bad." This episode not only exposed the differences in the political philosophies of the two leaders, but also added a dramatic confrontational color to the meeting.
Global issues: wide-ranging discussions from Ukraine to Gaza
In addition to discussing bilateral relations, Trump and Starmer also exchanged views on a range of global affairs. They set a new deadline for Russia to cease fire in the Ukrainian conflict, showing the two countries' common concerns about international security issues. In addition, the two sides announced that they would establish a food center to alleviate the growing hunger crisis in the Gaza Strip. The discussion of these topics demonstrated the potential for cooperation between the United Kingdom and the United States on the global stage, but also further highlighted the two people's different ideas on specific policy implementation.
Conclusion: Deep differences beneath friendly appearances
The meeting, held at the Turnberry Golf Club, was not only a vivid display of the "special relationship" between the United Kingdom and the United States, but also a microcosm of the differences between the two leaders in terms of policy concepts. With his signature frankness and charm, Trump tried to get closer to Starmer through enthusiastic praise; while Starmer responded with humor and calmness, showing the demeanor of a mature politician. However, from energy policy to tax reform to the evaluation of the mayor of London, the conversation between the two was always mixed with irreconcilable contradictions. These differences not only reflect the different priorities of the United Kingdom and the United States in the current global environment, but also cast a layer of uncertainty on the direction of future bilateral cooperation.
Impact on the British Pound
The trend of the pound may be affected by the UK's energy policy and economic confidence. Trump criticized the UK's offshore wind power plan and urged more development of traditional energy, which is contrary to Starmer's carbon-free energy strategy. If the market believes that the UK may adjust its energy policy under pressure from the US, resulting in a slowdown in renewable energy investment, it may weaken the UK's attractiveness in the green economy and put short-term downward pressure on the pound. In addition, Trump's criticism of London Mayor Sadiq Khan may cause domestic political uncertainty in the UK, indirectly affecting the market's confidence in the stability of the UK economy. However, since the meeting did not directly involve the pound exchange rate or monetary policy, the impact may be relatively mild, more reflected in market sentiment fluctuations rather than substantive shocks.
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