The Brits are SO smart.

Really not. The best way to get what you want is to make the other person think they have.

Trump and Putin are after minerals, the rest is theatre for us not to notice.

I think this is right. We don't yet know how things are going to pan out, and with hindsight, this could end up looking like a diplomatic masterstroke or a pathetic attempt at appeasement.

The difficulty for Starmer is that he doesn't really have any other hands to play at this point. The UK, even with European allies, doesn't have the might to stand up to the US and Russia, so seeking to influence is their only option.

Time will tell whether or not their influence is enough to achieve any positive impact, but for the time being, I think Starmer has played the hand that he was dealt as effectively as he could have done. He was clearly very well briefed and well rehearsed, and he had liaised closely with European allies to establish an agreed approach. We can only hope that, between them, they are able to steer Trump in a different direction from the one in which he appeared to be headed. Otherwise we're all fucked.

I bet someone tested a few versions to camera beforehand, and decided that would show up best.

They bet correctly that Trump would feel the need to show everyone: "Look! Look! I got a letter from the King! The real King!"

I don't know about that. Starmer played his hand well. That is not the same as playing Trump at all. This idea Trump is stupid is wrong. He has a hard edge which you see occasionally but he is a sharp man.

I wondered that! Was it a piss take, but Trump didn't realise?

Yes very amusing, the cringe factor was huge.

How embarrassing to watch our supposer leader bow and scrape with his silly letter.

KS looked like a rabbit in the headlights as always. Loved his wail 'but but we do have free speech in the UK we do!' When Vance had pointed out no, we don't.

I agree. Trump committed to nothing and changes his mind on a daily basis anyway. It's all game playing.

The close up of the letter says Balmoral

Not to mention the fact his party actively campaigned for the Democrats

Indeed, @Wildflowers99. I'm as centrist as they come, but thought even at the time that this was a serious mistake

Possibly they believed the polls, or perhaps it was just the usual leftist habit of never accepting they could be wrong, but either way I wouldn't expect Trump to forget it

Didn’t think I’d ever find myself feeling sorry for Keir Starmer and David Lammy, but here we are. Well done on his handling of the giant toddler.

Yes they are - the questions afterwards were dire. Did that suit both men? Absolutely.

Why do we have this pantomime? Because of the media.

Starmer played him like a fiddle. Starmer and Macron definitely a tag team. Fingers crossed for Zelensky today.

It's not a bad move but I hope the lives it saves will make up for the lives lost by slashing the foreign aid budget.

I voted Labour and had lots of hopes for this government but I'm starting to find them highly unpleasant. Almost as populist as the tories. Of the last 4 labour leaders keir starmer definitely has the lowest morals. Maybe that's why he managed to win the election.

How did they persuade the palace to use a Sharpie? This is top rate diplomacy.

You must be joking, did you miss the parts where Starmer and the journalists threw the EU under the bus?

That was a joke/backtrack

It was a pragmatic and sensibly handled start.

Anyone complaining that an FTA wasnt done and dusted yesterday is an idiot.

The minerals deal will primarily be a matter for Zelensky and Trump. They meet tomorrow - why would Starmer pre-empt something he can't negotiate.

Absolutely he is. I'm a Yank, and a lot of Americans are pretty enamoured of the royal family. Even George Washington wanted a family crest to show his gentlemanly status, so not much has changed.

That said, poor King Charles. Meeting Trump is not going to be fun.

I'm more amazed at how deftly the US has shifted the conversation on Ukraine

The mineral deal is now normalised and resources will be carved up.

It's kind of genius to get leaders walking away feeling self important. The art of the deal I guess.

I actually respect Starmer more than I did before seeing how he played Trump without Trump having any idea.
I also think its interesting that fighting ego with ego won't work with Trump and Starmer and his aides have found a path where everybody wins (hopefully).
I am not a Starmer fan in general but I admire the way he behaved here and it shows that a less aggressive approach (while not rolling over entirely) may well be the best way to handle Trump - who probably won't even realise he is being "handled"
The US "might is right" attitude vs the EU cunning is quite interesting to see

Sorry, but what has been agreed on? What did the UK get? Trump hasn't agreed to anything.

I think the British press really are that stupid to think that everything worked out. Absolutely nothing was agreed.

The thing is; using the Royal Family as a bargaining tool isn't new. The Queen (and indeed the King now) historically aren't allowed to say "No" if the Government really want or need to foster good relationships with a regime that is unpleasant or even abhorrent. I remember seeing a programme about the Royal Family and poor Queen Liz had to go through the motions of a diplomatic state visit for Idi Amin!

So while this may seem cringy and embarrassing; the Goverment and the Royal Family are very well aware of what they're doing I'm sure.

Come on some of these criticisms of Starmer are ridiculous. Did he lay it on thick, yes. Did he change Trump's trajectory on Ukraine, no (seriously did anyone expect this).

The UK has a lot of problems. Number one is the economy, not Ukraine, and in those terms it was positive. My guess is that Trump will come good on a FTA as it suits him. Yes we will be making compromises. But actually I do not see any other country or entity looking as enthusiastic about a FTA. And we are really really screwed by if we wait for the EU and their declining economic states. The US is a dynamic economy which we should be actively working with to improve the UK's outlook and life for its people.

And you know what else; we would do well to acknowledge that better links with the US may improve the UK's own access to critical minerals, which it has wanted and needs,

Starmer and Macron are the joint spokesmen I'm pretty sure. I think this will bring the UK closer to the EU.

Given he couldn’t remember calling Zelenski a dictator Im not sure he can remember much!