As Kemi Badenoch told me when I interviewed the Tory leader for The Spectator during the festive season, “there’s actually quite a lot of dark tones to Love Actually”.
“There is a British prime minister who’s messing around and is not doing the foreign policy properly,” Badenoch said.
What happened after the end credits – did the US president hit back? Did the intelligence sharing relationship change? What about all that trade?
For No 10, securing the trip was a relief. Much had been written in advance about the difficulties facing the Labour government when it comes to wooing Team Trump.
Therefore, managing to continue with the status quo of friendly relations and calls and meetings was something to bank. But the developing situation in Ukraine means that Starmer’s trip has risen in significance.
Since Trump labelled Zelensky a dictator last week, expectations have been rather low over what he might do next. Macron appeared to have some success this week when he met with Trump on Monday. In many ways it was a meeting of two alphas. While both men espouse rather different politics, they have some similar traits: neither are shy in coming forward, lack confidence or are afraid to speak their mind. What other European leader would dare interrupt the US president mid-press conference to correct Trump on how much money Europe has given to Ukraine?
Aides are braced for some potentially awkward moments. There is a brief history of ritual humiliation of UK leaders meeting with Trump – even when they have more in common politically. Theresa May’s trip saw her criticised after Trump held her hand. At a later date she had to endure a joint press conference where the US president largely trashed her Brexit plans. Boris Johnson had a little more luck – but it was still a relationship Downing Street found difficult to navigate.
Starmer shifts to the right to tame Trump
Read MoreThis is the approach – you attract more flies with honey than vinegar. There has also been a concerted effort to line up friendly announcements, such as the increase in defence spending that has secured praise from Defence Secretary John Healey’s American counterpart Peter Hegseth. And there are reports that Starmer could even paint offshore wind turbines black to stop bird collisions, after Trump raised concerns on this with Starmer on a phone call. Despite railing against Trump in opposition, Starmer and his ministers are getting savvy about how to get him onside.
It could make Starmer look as though he lacks a spine. If Starmer can win Trump’s ear, it will be worth it. But a trip that misfires on both counts would risk a backlash all round.
Katy Balls is the political editor of The Spectator
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