“I’m happy,” he told his travelling companions, giving a Trump-esque thumbs up.
Starmer travelled home with much to be satisfied about, despite falling short of his top objective to obtain an American security “backstop” to protect Ukraine from further attacks after an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Observers were left slack-jawed at the warm welcome Starmer received from the President, who even praised his British accent. Ahead of the formal negotiations the two leaders met in the Oval Office, with Trump manspreading and Starmer apparently nervous, legs crossed, tucked the corner of his light-yellow chair. “Do you want to say something?” Trump asked.
Next was a working lunch of salad, sea bass and chocolate caramel cake and the exchange of gifts including a Tartan golf cap for Trump and a US soccer shirt for Starmer. After two hours of diplomacy the pair were back for a news conference.
Trump even offered Starmer a trade deal that could exempt the UK from being hit with American tariffs as he hailed the “wonderful” relationship between the two nations. That’s a boost to Britain as the threat to impose tariffs had the potential to derail Starmer’s plan to bet the house on economic growth.
Another diplomatic win for Starmer was the confirmation from Trump that the US would apparently not block British plans to return the Chagos Islands and lease back Diego Garcia, the largest island in the archipelago, which is home to a sizeable military base.
Even so, a diplomatic win in the US may come at a cost of driving a further wedge between the UK and Europe, as Trump repeated his assertion he prefers to deal with London over Brussels.
However, it could instead give a boost to co-operation between the UK and the European Union on defence and encourage the EU negotiators to separate out their demands that security is packaged up with demands on fishing and youth mobility.
Trump told Starmer he trusts Russian President Vladimir Putin to keep his word and that the presence of US workers digging for minerals in Ukraine would deter Russia from “playing around”.
But the US’s equivocation on the issue matters because of the high-stakes implications. Deploying British troops to Ukraine alongside other Nato nations – although not necessarily led by Nato – as part of a peacekeeping force would be one of the most significant decisions of his premiership. The lessons from the never-ending missions to Iraq and Afghanistan can’t be far from his mind.
Six surprises from Trump's extraordinary meeting with Starmer
Read MoreStarmer has every reason to come arrive home from his visit pleased with his reception. In the court of Emperor Donald, once the top guy decides he likes you, you’re in. And that lasts apparently until further notice.
We saw a different side to Starmer in Washington. The Prime Minister’s decision to take the invitation from the King out of his inside jacket pocket was an unexpected piece of stagecraft. But the reply was peak-Trump.
Luckily, the King had signed the letter it in black felt tip pen. “And that’s quite a signature, isn’t it?” Trump said. “Beautiful.”
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