The i Paper - Tuesday March 17 2026 - How Trump turned on Starmer – and why it matters - Eleanor Langford By Eleanor Langford Political Reporter at The i Paper and author of Politics Unwrapped Good evening and welcome to Tuesday’s Politics Unwrapped. When Donald Trump first met Sir Keir Starmer, it seemed like the pair hit it off. Their early meetings were full of warm words and smiles, but as time has passed, the relationship has soured. Now, the US President is saying he is “not happy” with the Prime Minister over his response to US-Israeli strikes on Iran. Starmer has refused his calls for the UK to send in its navy to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz – a waterway key to the global supply of oil. But Trump’s rebukes could have further implications for the UK beyond the current conflict. Let’s unpack how Trump and Starmer’s relationship has played out - and why it matters. But first, here are our other key political stories from today: Household energy bills could hit £2,500 in July – here’s who will have them cut Born between 1965 and 1980? Your pension is probably ‘inadequate’ – how to fix it UK in talks over boosting Navy in the Gulf to defend shipping Reeves to gamble on closer EU ties to save economy – but Europe plays hardball How we got here At the end of February, the US and Israel took part in joint strikes on Iran. In response to the conflict, Iran has effectively closed off the Strait of Hormuz – the narrow waterway between Iran and the Gulf states which carries roughly a fifth of the world’s oil and gas supplies. Iran initially threatened to fire on any ship trying to pass through it, though it has now clarified that the Strait is open to all except the US and its allies. Vessels from India, Pakistan and Türkiye have all been allowed passage in recent days. In a recent interview with the Financial Times, Trump rebuked many allies of the US for not sending in military support to secure passage through the Strait of Hormuz. “It’s only appropriate that people who are the beneficiaries of the Strait will help to make sure that nothing bad happens there,” he said. But Starmer, alongside many other European countries, has denied his request. His position, stated publicly on Monday, is that reopening the strait is "not a simple task" and that the UK is working with allies on a "viable, collective plan" to restore access to the waterway. Within hours of that statement, Trump told reporters he was "not happy" with the UK, adding it "should be involved enthusiastically" in efforts to reopen the Strait. He later told a press conference there were "some countries that greatly disappointed me" before he singled out the UK, which he said had been considered "the Rolls-Royce of allies". OTHER TOP STORIES Opinion: The UK is closer to food riots than you may think → Retired civil servants given loans worth £2m after being hit by pension delays → Opinion: Rachel Reeves made a huge error – it was obvious to everyone but her → How Trump's view of Starmer has shifted September 2024 The pair first met for a two-hour dinner at Trump Tower in New York while Trump was still a presidential candidate. At the time, Trump described Starmer as "very nice" and someone who had run a "great race" in the UK. November 2024 Following Trump’s election victory, the two had a phone call that Downing Street described as "incredibly strong”. They reportedly "fondly recalled" their New York meeting. January 2025 Shortly after his inauguration, Trump told the BBC on board Air Force One that Starmer had done a "very good job thus far" and described him as a "very good person". February 2025 During an early 2025 visit, Trump praised their discussions as "terrific" and called Starmer a "very, very special person". He joked during a joint news conference that if he had Starmer's "beautiful" accent, he would have been president 20 years earlier. Sir Keir Starmer meeting Donald Trump in the Oval Office in February last year (Photo: Carl Court/Getty) September 2025 Trump and Starmer met at Chequers during the US President’s second state visit to the UK. At a press conference, Trump said that the “ties between our countries are priceless” and that they were “making those ties closer than ever before”. January 2026 Trump attacked Starmer's Chagos Islands deal on his social media platform Truth Social, calling it an "act of great stupidity" and a "national security" risk. February 2026 Trump briefly reversed his stance, calling Starmer's agreement the "best he could make" after a direct phone call between the two. March 2026 Following Starmer's initial refusal to allow US bombers to use British bases for strikes on Iran, Trump told reporters he was "very disappointed" and that Starmer "has not been helpful". He later said the UK-US relationship is “obviously not what it was”. subscriptionoffer

 

Tuesday March 17 2026 How Trump turned on Starmer – and why it matters

By Eleanor Langford Political Reporter at The i Paper and author of Politics Unwrapped

Good evening and welcome to Tuesday’s Politics Unwrapped. When Donald Trump first met Sir Keir Starmer, it seemed like the pair hit it off. Their early meetings were full of warm words and smiles, but as time has passed, the relationship has soured. Now, the US President is saying he is “not happy” with the Prime Minister over his response to US-Israeli strikes on Iran. Starmer has refused his calls for the UK to send in its navy to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz – a waterway key to the global supply of oil. But Trump’s rebukes could have further implications for the UK beyond the current conflict. Let’s unpack how Trump and Starmer’s relationship has played out - and why it matters. But first, here are our other key political stories from today:

Household energy bills could hit £2,500 in July – here’s who will have them cut Born between 1965 and 1980? Your pension is probably ‘inadequate’ – how to fix it UK in talks over boosting Navy in the Gulf to defend shipping Reeves to gamble on closer EU ties to save economy – but Europe plays hardball

How we got here

At the end of February, the US and Israel took part in joint strikes on Iran.  In response to the conflict, Iran has effectively closed off the Strait of Hormuz – the narrow waterway between Iran and the Gulf states which carries roughly a fifth of the world’s oil and gas supplies. Iran initially threatened to fire on any ship trying to pass through it, though it has now clarified that the Strait is open to all except the US and its allies. Vessels from India, Pakistan and Türkiye have all been allowed passage in recent days. In a recent interview with the Financial Times, Trump rebuked many allies of the US for not sending in military support to secure passage through the Strait of Hormuz. “It’s only appropriate that people who are the beneficiaries of the Strait will help to make sure that nothing bad happens there,” he said. But Starmer, alongside many other European countries, has denied his request. His position, stated publicly on Monday, is that reopening the strait is "not a simple task" and that the UK is working with allies on a "viable, collective plan" to restore access to the waterway. Within hours of that statement, Trump told reporters he was "not happy" with the UK, adding it "should be involved enthusiastically" in efforts to reopen the Strait. He later told a press conference there were "some countries that greatly disappointed me" before he singled out the UK, which he said had been considered "the Rolls-Royce of allies".

OTHER TOP STORIES

Opinion: The UK is closer to food riots than you may think →

Retired civil servants given loans worth £2m after being hit by pension delays →

Opinion: Rachel Reeves made a huge error – it was obvious to everyone but her →

How Trump's view of Starmer has shifted

September 2024 The pair first met for a two-hour dinner at Trump Tower in New York while Trump was still a presidential candidate. At the time, Trump described Starmer as "very nice" and someone who had run a "great race" in the UK.

November 2024 Following Trump’s election victory, the two had a phone call that Downing Street described as "incredibly strong”. They reportedly "fondly recalled" their New York meeting.

January 2025 Shortly after his inauguration, Trump told the BBC on board Air Force One that Starmer had done a "very good job thus far" and described him as a "very good person".

February 2025 During an early 2025 visit, Trump praised their discussions as "terrific" and called Starmer a "very, very special person". He joked during a joint news conference that if he had Starmer's "beautiful" accent, he would have been president 20 years earlier.

Sir Keir Starmer meeting Donald Trump in the Oval Office in February last year (Photo: Carl Court/Getty)

September 2025 Trump and Starmer met at Chequers during the US President’s second state visit to the UK. At a press conference, Trump said that the “ties between our countries are priceless” and that they were “making those ties closer than ever before”.

January 2026 Trump attacked Starmer's Chagos Islands deal on his social media platform Truth Social, calling it an "act of great stupidity" and a "national security" risk.

February 2026 Trump briefly reversed his stance, calling Starmer's agreement the "best he could make" after a direct phone call between the two.

March 2026 Following Starmer's initial refusal to allow US bombers to use British bases for strikes on Iran, Trump told reporters he was "very disappointed" and that Starmer "has not been helpful". He later said the UK-US relationship is “obviously not what it was”.