🔗 Share this article

It’s hardly any question that the President was more enthused about his day at Windsor Castle compared to his talks with Sir Keir Starmer at Chequers.

And that is not a criticism on the UK prime minister's hospitality throughout this official trip, an event the US President along with his aides have been eager to praise.

Starmer's country residence is certainly an impressive meeting place, and there was also an aerial display by the UK’s Red Devils, carrying enormous British and American flags to welcome the US leader in the English countryside.

Although the President seems to truly appreciate Starmer, and their warm relationship on display at Thursday’s press event, the president remained captivated by receiving hospitality from the King and Queen on Wednesday.

Official trips of this kind enable presidents and prime ministers to bond personally, providing an opportunity for aides to build working relationships. These are additionally an opportunity to showcase the closeness between nations very publicly.

In this sense, it was successful all around.

• Key takeaways from the US-UK joint briefing
• President floats idea Starmer could use military to secure UK borders
• Photo gallery: The First Couple with the royals in Windsor

We saw no real awkwardness at the press event, which had the potential to reveal areas of disagreements.

When the two men were asked about a divisive topic, Britain’s proposal to recognise an independent Palestine, the President expressed opposition but also gave the PM a grin along with a pat in support as the prime minister denounced Hamas.

And on another potentially tricky issue, the dismissal involving Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador due to past connections with Jeffrey Epstein, Trump was unusually taciturn. He offered very little and immediately deferred to Starmer.

Both men did discuss conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine during almost an hour talking alone without any of their staff present. And while the tone was quite friendly at the news conference, it quickly became clear that neither shifted stances on the key issues.

These events highlight constraints on the degree of sway a foreign counterpart may exert on Trump, regardless of how well-received a visit such as this.

At Chequers, questions were put to Wiles regarding how much difference the visit will make on UK influence to influence American decisions on trade, tariffs and international affairs. Her response was frank – very little.

However much Trump appreciated the official welcome, he is not change long-held views on important international policies because of an evening in Windsor Castle.

But after the extensive pomp and pageantry, Starmer appears to have at least gained the right to dissent politely with Trump without paying a diplomatic penalty.

Getting costly to get on the wrong side of the US president, but by skillful management the relationship the UK has managed to avoid hefty import taxes that have been against other nations. Starmer, in turn, avoided subjected to a humiliating dressing down or given an insulting label.

While the encounter unlikely to turn to the kind of awkward clash observed occasionally in the Oval Office this year – not just with the Ukrainian leader but with additional counterparts as well – it is notable how calm Trump approached the questions during the concluding news conference in a far less aggression than he often does back in Washington.

Had Starmer used his “trump card” through organizing this lavish royal welcome? The event proved orchestrated perfectly and clearly pleased the President and the first lady.

Even if the British leader didn’t gain the power to change the president's mind, a falling out seems further away now more than ever.