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Keir Starmer gives Donald Trump state visit invitation from the King | Keir Starmer gives Donald Trump state visit invitation from the King |
(32 minutes later) | |
King invites Donald Trump for second UK state visit | |
US President Donald Trump has been invited to the UK for a second state visit by the King. | US President Donald Trump has been invited to the UK for a second state visit by the King. |
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer used his trip to the White House to present Trump with the invitation letter from King Charles. | Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer used his trip to the White House to present Trump with the invitation letter from King Charles. |
Sir Keir said the president's last state visit in 2019 had been a "tremendous success" and that the invite for a second visit was "truly historic" and "unprecedented". | Sir Keir said the president's last state visit in 2019 had been a "tremendous success" and that the invite for a second visit was "truly historic" and "unprecedented". |
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office after reading the letter, Trump said he accepted the invite and that it would be an "honour" to visit the "fantastic" country. | Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office after reading the letter, Trump said he accepted the invite and that it would be an "honour" to visit the "fantastic" country. |
He added that King Charles was a "beautiful man, a wonderful man". | He added that King Charles was a "beautiful man, a wonderful man". |
Traditionally second-term US presidents are not offered a state visit and have instead been invited for tea or lunch with the monarch at Windsor Castle. | Traditionally second-term US presidents are not offered a state visit and have instead been invited for tea or lunch with the monarch at Windsor Castle. |
King Charles' letter proposed a meeting to discuss details of the state visit at either Dumfries House or Balmoral, both in Scotland, a country to which Trump has connections. | King Charles' letter proposed a meeting to discuss details of the state visit at either Dumfries House or Balmoral, both in Scotland, a country to which Trump has connections. |
His mother was born and brought up on the Hebridean island of Lewis. This year he is planning to open a new golf course in Aberdeenshire, to be named after his mother. | His mother was born and brought up on the Hebridean island of Lewis. This year he is planning to open a new golf course in Aberdeenshire, to be named after his mother. |
The letter, which Trump showed to the cameras, read: "Quite apart from this presenting an opportunity to discuss a wide range of issues of mutual interest, it would also offer a valuable chance to plan a historic second state visit to the United Kingdom. | The letter, which Trump showed to the cameras, read: "Quite apart from this presenting an opportunity to discuss a wide range of issues of mutual interest, it would also offer a valuable chance to plan a historic second state visit to the United Kingdom. |
"As you will know this is unprecedented by a US president. That is why I would find it helpful for us to be able to discuss, together, a range of options for location and programme content. | "As you will know this is unprecedented by a US president. That is why I would find it helpful for us to be able to discuss, together, a range of options for location and programme content. |
"In so doing, working together, I know we will further enhance the special relationship between our two countries of which we are both so proud." | "In so doing, working together, I know we will further enhance the special relationship between our two countries of which we are both so proud." |
Trump joked that he would have to check if the signature was real. | Trump joked that he would have to check if the signature was real. |
After the letter was presented, reporters had thirty minutes to put questions to both leaders, although Trump did the bulk of the talking. | |
Donald Trump was hosted by the late Queen during his three-day state visit in 2019 | Donald Trump was hosted by the late Queen during his three-day state visit in 2019 |
During his visit Sir Keir will hope to influence Trump as he seeks to reach a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia. | |
Speaking on the plane to the US, Sir Keir told reporters that a deal would not stop Vladimir Putin from invading Ukraine again, unless the US were able to provide security guarantees. | |
Asked if the US could offer such support, Trump said a proposed deal with Ukraine over access to critical minerals would provide "a backstop". | Asked if the US could offer such support, Trump said a proposed deal with Ukraine over access to critical minerals would provide "a backstop". |
"We are a backstop because we will be over there, we will be working in the country," he said. | "We are a backstop because we will be over there, we will be working in the country," he said. |
Since becoming prime minister, Sir Keir, who had previously been critical of the president, has sought to build a close relationship with Trump. | Since becoming prime minister, Sir Keir, who had previously been critical of the president, has sought to build a close relationship with Trump. |
However, he did feel compelled to contradict the US president when he accused Volodymyr Zelensky of being a dictator. | However, he did feel compelled to contradict the US president when he accused Volodymyr Zelensky of being a dictator. |
Asked about his dictator comments, Trump said: "Did I say that? I can't believe I said that. Next question." | Asked about his dictator comments, Trump said: "Did I say that? I can't believe I said that. Next question." |
Pressed over whether he would approve the UK's potential deal to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, Trump said: "We're going to have some discussions about that very soon, and I have a feeling it's going to work out very well. | Pressed over whether he would approve the UK's potential deal to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, Trump said: "We're going to have some discussions about that very soon, and I have a feeling it's going to work out very well. |
"I think we'll be inclined to go along with your country," | "I think we'll be inclined to go along with your country," |
In an interview after arriving in the US on Wednesday, Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the controversial deal would not go ahead unless the US supported it. | In an interview after arriving in the US on Wednesday, Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the controversial deal would not go ahead unless the US supported it. |
Under the proposal, the UK would cede sovereignty of the Chagos archipelago to Mauritius but would still be able to use one of the islands, Diego Garcia, which includes a UK-US military airbase. | Under the proposal, the UK would cede sovereignty of the Chagos archipelago to Mauritius but would still be able to use one of the islands, Diego Garcia, which includes a UK-US military airbase. |