Stop the small boats by any means possible, says Trump

US president tells Starmer to use military in English Channel

- DAVID MADDOX POLITICAL EDITOR

Donald Trump has told Sir Keir Starmer he needs to use the military to end the small boats crisis, warning illegal migration can “destroy” countries.

After a day of talks, the US president offered his advice in a blockbuster press conference that rounded off his historic second state visit.

Standing in the Great Hall of Chequers, the prime minister's country residence, the leaders emphasised their positive relationship and the “unbreakable bond” between their countries as they basked in their £150bn technology partnership deal, which they say will allow the UK and US “to shape the world this century like we shaped the world in the last century”.

But there were small signs of tension, with Mr Trump admitting Britain's plan to recognise Palestine was “one of the few things we disagree on”.

In their wide-ranging, 45-minute news conference:

• Mr Trump said Vladimir Putin "really let me down" as Sir Keir insisted both the UK and the US are ramping up pressure on Russia

• Mr Trump urged Britain to exploit North Sea oil and gas, repeating his “drill, baby drill” mantra and dismissing wind power as an “expensive joke”

• Both leaders refused to be drawn on the Peter Mandelson scandal, with the president claiming: “I don’t really know him”

It came as the Home Office finally managed to deport an illegal migrant as part of Britain's “one in, one out” returns deal with France - but was almost immediately hit with more legal delays from the courts on another planned deportation.