KEIR Starmer has said he trusts Donald Trump after the US President clashed with Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an extraordinary scene at the White House.
On Friday, Trump and his Vice President JD Vance humiliated the Ukrainian President in the Oval Office accusing him of ingratitude and scrapping a planned press conference as well as the signing of a critical minerals deal.
During the clash, Trump accused Zelenskyy of "gambling with world war three".
The exchange played out on live television and has shocked the world, with people right across the UK now calling for the planned Trump state visit to be called off.
But Starmer told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme that he still trusts the US President.
Asked if he trusted both Trump and Zelenskyy, he responded “yes, I do” to both questions.
Pressed on why he trusts the US President, he said: “Because I’ve spoken to him a number of times. I’ve got to know him. I’ve had extensive discussions with him and I believe his motivation is lasting peace.”
He added: “If the central question you’re putting to me is do I trust Donald Trump when he says he wants lasting peace? The answer to that question is yes.
“But, also, take a step back, the relationship between the US and the UK is the closest relationship of any two countries in the world, our defence, our security, our intelligence, are bound up one with another in a way that is not seen anywhere else in the world.”
Asked if he would trust Russian President Vladimir Putin, he said: “Well, no, I wouldn’t trust Putin, which is why I want a security guarantee.
The Prime Minister refused to say he would rescind an invitation to the US President from King Charles for an unprecedented second royal visit.
This followed a call from the First Minister John Swinney to have it pulled. He said it was “simply unimaginable” that Trump should be granted a visit with the King following the “shocking” events in the Oval Office.
"[Donald Trump] wants a lasting peace, and I agree with him about that" UK PM Keir Starmer says that both US President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky want peace between Ukraine and Russia and "nobody wants this conflict to go on"#BBCLauraK https://t.co/Qc14PAI113 pic.twitter.com/HVbQAYyi8v
— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) March 2, 2025
Kuenssberg questioned why Trump deserves an unprecedented second visit when it wasn’t offered to other US presidents like George Bush or Ronald Reagan.
Starmer refused to say he would axe the invitation as he said the only thing that “drives” him is bringing lasting peace.
He said: “I've seen people ramping up the rhetoric and taking to Twitter and saying what they would do.
“Good for them. I'm not that interested in that.
“I'm interested in what are the practical steps, what is the bridge building that I can do, what are the relationships that I can mend and take forward to take us to lasting peace in Europe."
He added he would not be "diverted" by the SNP who he said were trying to "ramp up rhetoric".
The meeting between Trump and the King is due to take place at either Dumfries House in Ayrshire or Balmoral in Aberdeenshire at a future date.
