The US president-elect’s inner circle reportedly sees Keir Starmer as “irrelevant” and “not a priority”
Incoming US President Donald Trump may sideline British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, placing him “at the back of the queue” of world leaders invited to Washington, following accusations of Labour Party meddling in US elections.
According to Mail on Sunday sources, Starmer will “have to eat humble pie” to secure a meeting at the White House. In an article published on Saturday, the newspaper reported that Trump’s advisers are considering measures to snub Starmer, including rejecting Labour grandee Lord Mandelson’s candidacy for UK ambassador to Washington due to his perceived links to China.
Some of Trump’s allies are reportedly seeing Nigel Farage as a potential successor to Starmer, with the newspaper describing the move as “revenge” for Labour’s actions. Farage is expected to attend Trump’s inauguration on Monday, along with former Prime Ministers Liz Truss and Boris Johnson.
During the 2024 US presidential election, Labour’s director of operations, Sofia Patel, posted an appeal on LinkedIn encouraging party staffers to campaign for Kamala Harris in key swing states. Reports suggest that nearly 100 Labour staff participated in the effort, which has drawn sharp criticism from Trump’s team. In response, Trump’s allies have filed a formal complaint with the Federal Election Commission, alleging foreign interference.
An unnamed Trump ally, speaking to the Mail on Sunday, condemned Labour’s actions as “election interference, plain and simple.” They added, “Who the f*** do these people think they are? Trump’s view is that it’s none of their business what is going on here, and they should have kept out.” The source noted that Labour’s efforts left “a nasty taste in the mouth” for Trump and his team.
Another insider indicated that Trump has strong UK contacts and prefers to operate through non-traditional routes, which “suits him just fine.” They dismissed Starmer as “irrelevant” and suggested that while a meeting may happen eventually, “the optics are more important” to the UK Prime Minister than to Trump.
A Downing Street source played down the tensions, stating that “neither Sir Keir nor No. 10 is overly stressing about when he gets out there.” Government insiders confirmed that “constructive” discussions are ongoing with Trump’s team to arrange Starmer’s visit to Washington. Speaking to the Financial Times, Starmer emphasized his efforts to build a “constructive” relationship with Trump, expressing optimism that this would help shield the UK from potential punitive trade tariffs.
Trump, who is set to be inaugurated on Monday, is reportedly eyeing a second state visit to the UK. Insiders suggest he may bypass the British government by appealing directly to the Royal Family. If granted, it would make Trump the first elected politician in modern history to receive two state visits, following his 2019 trip hosted by the late Queen.
