Starmer, Trump hail renewal of ‘special relationship’ and skirt difficult issues

US leader says Putin has ‘really let me down’ over Ukraine; Trump says he disagrees with UK on recognising Palestinian state, trying to ‘get back’ Bagram airbase from Afghanistan

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Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hailed the renewal of their nations’ “special relationship” on Thursday, drawing the US leader's unprecedented second state visit to a close with a show of unity after avoiding possible pitfalls.

At a warm press conference when the two leaders glossed over differences on Gaza and wind power to present a united front, Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin had “let him down” and he was disappointed other countries were still buying Russian oil because only a low oil price would punish Moscow.

After two days of his state visit to Britain, which the US leader described as an “exquisite honour”, Trump was in a relaxed mode at the final press conference while Starmer was focused on avoiding areas of disagreement.

Neither leader was tripped up by potentially embarrassing subjects, with both batting away questions over the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his ties to Trump and to Starmer’s former ambassador to the US.

“We've renewed the special relationship for a new era,” Starmer told reporters.