Starmer to keep in touch with Trump after No 10

Sir Keir Starmer has said he will keep in touch with US President Donald Trump after his time as prime minister ends.

The pair developed a positive relationship in their opening months of working together, which Sir Keir's team highlighted at the time as one of the biggest successes of his premiership.

But Trump later mocked Sir Keir as being "no Winston Churchill" in a row over the refusal to permit the use of UK bases for the initial US-Israel strikes on Iran.

On Wednesday, Trump repeated his criticism of the UK's response to the conflict. But Sir Keir, asked whether Trump had wished him well as he prepares to leave Downing Street, said: "Yes he did, and we're going to stay in touch."

Sir Keir was also handed a personalised gun with live ammunition as gift from Nato summit host Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The revolver has Sir Keir's name written on it, but it is understood the bullets did not have anyone's name on them.

A similar gift was given to the leader of each Nato country in attendance.

Starmer's gifted firearm has been left with British officials in Turkey, and they are expected to decommission it so it can no longer fire live rounds.

Speaking at the Nato summit in Ankara, Sir Keir also told broadcasters: "We've always got on as two individuals.

"That is important because it really matters in politics to have a relationship that is a working relationship."

Sir Keir said the strategic alliance between the UK and US is "hugely important" in defence and security matters, with the two countries working "together 24/7".

After he stressed the importance of a UK prime minister having a "good relationship" with a US president, Sir Keir said: "I'm glad that that's what I've been able to achieve.

"That has been what I set out to do, I think it's really important for my country, and that's what always comes first for me."

Sir Keir announced his resignation as Labour leader last month, paving the way for a contest to replace him as prime minister.

Andy Burnham is currently the only candidate in the running to replace Sir Keir and could become the prime minister on 20 July.

In September 2024, Sir Keir and Trump had a two-hour dinner at Trump Tower in New York.

It was the first time they had met and came shortly before Trump won the 2024 US election to secure his return to the White House for a second term, after losing in 2020.

Five months later in the Oval Office, Sir Keir presented Trump with a letter from King Charles III inviting him to the UK for a second state visit.

In July 2025, Sir Keir told the BBC that the two leaders had built a relationship on shared family values.

He also said Trump had reached out to console him after the death of his younger brother Nick Starmer.

But by January of this year, Sir Keir was warning a trade war was in "no-one's interest" after Trump threatened to impose a 10% tax on imports from the UK and other countries who opposed his plans to take control of Greenland.

The UK government also defended a proposed deal to give the Chagos Islands to Mauritius and lease back a key military base.

Trump had labelled the move as an "act of great stupidity" despite he and senior US officials previously endorsing it.

Some Labour MPs were also voicing concerns about Sir Keir's desire for a warm rapport with the president.

In March, Sir Keir and Trump publicly disagreed over the approach to the Iran conflict.

Sir Keir angered Trump by refusing to allow the US to use UK bases for its initial offensive strikes against Iran.

He later gave permission for them to be used for defensive action against Iranian missile strikes.

Trump criticised the UK in his public remarks as he said allies of the US should have provided more support. Sir Keir stood by his decisions, saying he would not be "diverted or deflected" from acting in what he says is the "best national interest".

Ahead of the meeting of Nato leaders on Wednesday, Trump again complained that Nato allies "weren't there for us" in the US war in the Middle East and criticised the UK for its initial denial of a request to use British bases.

Speaking after the summit, Sir Keir said he believed the alliance was stronger and more united following the gathering.

He said: "All the leaders spoke in the meeting and at the end President Trump summed up and said he was very pleased to welcome the spirit of the meeting and the unity of the meeting.

"And therefore in terms of what's the outcome here and answering that question 'Is Nato stronger and more united coming out of this summit?', then the answer is yes to that. And that really was all of our main purpose."

Trump described it as a "very successful" summit and said fellow Nato members were "answering the call" to increase defence funding.

He has repeatedly made clear he wants Nato members to contribute more to defence spending in Europe, and has also previously threatened to remove troops from Europe.

Members of the alliance last year agreed to spend 5% of gross domestic product (GDP) on defence and security by 2035.

Trump said: "Some have truly answered the call, and others are making big changes, and will be answering the call. I think I can say, in all cases, they're going to be answering the call."

Additional reporting by political editor Chris Mason