Starmer did well yesterday

Is trump expecting anything back for the hillions that have been given to Israel? Why does he only want something back from Ukraine?

He forgot Vance's comments.

I don't think for one moment Trump will forget the comments that various Labour MPs have made about him.

I doubt he much cares. Vance once called him America's Hitler.

He did exactly what Macron did. When Trump said Europe loaned the money, Macron interrupted to say that actually no, it was not loaned, it was given.

I think Starmer is treading this line very well and i'm pleased he's in charge for this moment.

It has been fascinating to observe just how much they have all been studying body language, mirroring etc with a fair bit if emergency psychology thrown in.
I and my colleagues had to work with some very difficult men sometimes and we had it all down to a fine art. It is tiring though.

We have not been taken for a ride. Ukraine was invaded by our shared enemy and is Europe's front line in the war.
We are supplying them with aid and weapons as though we were fighting, though we should have supplied more and faster. Consider therefore that we are supplying ourselves but without our soldiers dying. Nothing to charge them for.

The US on the other hand would not be directly affected. Suited them for the Ukrainians to lessen the might of the Russian army. Now that's been achieved, Trump asks for payment in the form of a terrible deal for Ukraine.

The knowledge that NATO has gained from Ukraine over the past three years is incalculable. Doubt Trump will consider that when presenting his invoice however.

Starmer is clever. He knows what he's doing.

I'm just going to repeat what I said on one of the other Starmer worshipping threads. Interesting how people perceive things differently. I saw it as an embarrassing, desperate move because Starmer knows Trump doesn't think much of the UK and the special relationship the two countries once had is long gone. I don't think for one moment Trump will forget the comments that various Labour MPs have made about him. It's just mind games and they are all playing each other.

giving something VOLUNTARILY isn't being 'taken for a ride'
Do you think you are 'taking your mum for a ride' and she is being 'mugged off' if she gives you a birthday present?

being taken for a ride would be if Ukraine had promised something in exchange and didn't deliver.

His outburst "we do have free speech" was embarrassing. We don't. Look at all the people locked up for posting mean things on Facebook and the women questioned by police for understanding biology.

I do that when someone starts to rant/ramble. It’s to bring them back to the conversation.

You think we're getting nothing back? Entire generations of Ukrainians are getting massacred to protect the safety of the rest of Europe. I'd say that's worth a few billion quid in the long run

He did a good job in difficult circumstances which, I imagine, were massively outside his comfort zone.

The invite from Charles will have helped too.

I think he did the best he could under very trying circumstances. The only way to play things with Trump is to massage his ego a bit - the “very special letter” was a clever move though cringing to watch him need to manage Trump in the way he needs to. Totally not in Starmers comfort zone but what’s needed to get anywhere with Trump. What a world we live in.

Yes exactly! I was cackling. And it worked.

Yes, Trump is easily impressed by a bit of bling. How the monarchy has fallen ;)

I watched Macron on Monday and was anxious that Starmer wouldn't stand a chance by comparison. He clearly doesn't have the natural charm and charisma of the French President. However, when it came to it, I was surprised by how well he managed the situation. Yes, his style is very different from that of Macron, but he had clearly done his homework and it seemed to work.

Plus of course, having a shiny invitation from the King in his pocket clearly helped!😂

I agree...he did a good job.

I loved the ...this is a very special letter...line. It was like a reception teacher talking to a five year old who had brought something in for show and tell 😂

I would say he did a good job, but I would need to be in the room for that. Who knows what the hell got agreed behind close doors ? I’m not that trusting of a government leader who came straight in and screwed all the pensioners they persuaded to vote for them.

I think Starmer played a blinder by appearing with Trump… ;) Next to Macron however his inadequacies are cruelly obvious…

But, moving forward on Ukraine is critical. Given we already have a trade deal with the US on many things I’m unclear what new things are proposed, and fear that we will easily be out negotiated by a president who is very clear that USA comes first. As for the Chagos islands, isn’t it a moot point as it’s not at all clear that they are happy with the proposed deal post elections? It would however neatly consume some of the recently announced increase in defence spending…

Exactly what I thought - the way he was touching Trumps arm !

Did the trick tho

It's a shame the US didn't take have this stance after WW2. We only just paid back their loan to us. FFS.

Is there anything British tax payers aren't made to contribute to with no expectation of a return? Whoop. Crack on.

Top level brown nosing and very uncomfortable to watch. I was contorted into a full body cringe.