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Original poster

The Brits are SO smart.

492 replies

MsAmerica · 28/02/2025 00:37

Playing Trump like a fiddle, knowing his weakness for flattery and star power. Starmer begins by presenting a letter of invitation from Charles III.

Donald Trump given letter from King Charles on Ukraine war with special 'unprecedented' invite
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/donald-trump-given-letter-from-king-charles-on-ukraine-war-with-special-unprecedented-invite/ar-AA1zVHbC

UK Prime Minister Starmer Presents Trump With An Invitation From King Charles For A State Visit: "This Is Really Special"
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2025/02/27/uk_prime_minister_starmer_presents_trump_with_an_invitation_from_king_charles_for_a_state_visit_this_is_really_special.html

OP posts:
Zonder · 28/02/2025 07:43

cait967 · 28/02/2025 07:42

I actually gasped at that. It’s like double think from 1984

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It is exactly like that. And sadly what is going on now.

I'm amazed at how much Trump changes his mind and seems to forget big headlines he has come out with shortly before.

cait967 · 28/02/2025 07:42

Zonder · 28/02/2025 07:35

Trump doesn't know what he thinks from one day to another (did I say Zelensky's a dictator?) so Starmer (and no doubt Macron behind him) pulled a smooth move. Trump now thinks the UK loves him.

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I actually gasped at that. It’s like double think from 1984

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 28/02/2025 07:42

It’s not just about Trump. Trump is a reflection of a mood in the US right now. So showing respect to the President is showing respect to the US. It will play well with Trump supporter because it shows DT is forcing countries to respect Americans etc etc.

If a slap up dinner with Charles is what it takes to calm troubled egos so be it.

TodayIsTheGreatest · 28/02/2025 07:42

Starmer played this hand very well and I don’t usually feel that about him at the moment. Trump is a disgusting person, it must have been horrible for any sane adult trying to flatter him like this. Excellent clever public service from both gov and crown here.

Noperope · 28/02/2025 07:41

Trump really is a big toddler.

"Oh you're so clever, look at you! Who's a big boy then, you get a special reward yes you do!"

And Trump sits there soaking all not realising he's being handled.

ItisIbeserk · 28/02/2025 07:41

And I don’t think it’s true that Trump doesn’t think much of the UK. He loves royalty, he has his golf courses here and likes to think he has respect here. He’s had Farage and Truss telling him how wonderful he is. He has more interest in a relationship with us than Europe, which genuinely doesn’t matter to him.

WhereAreWeNow · 28/02/2025 07:40

It was quite excruciating. But I agree Starmer did a good job at placating the megalomaniac toddler.

Watching all of this transactional international relations played out in plain site is just mind blowing.

Invitation from the king in exchange for preferential trade deals.

Rare minerals in exchange for peace.

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 28/02/2025 07:40

JoyousEagle · 28/02/2025 07:07

It does. The video of Starmer giving the invitation was nauseating "it's unprecedented, this is really special". But I bet it was all discussed before, and with the king to ok the invitation being so public etc.

It does seem like it's a bit of a trump card (pun intended).

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He was mirroring Trump’s language.

He also used ‘tremendous’, which Trump uses often.

Well played to whoever coached him.

Needtosoundoffandbreathe · 28/02/2025 07:36

It was a masterstroke, playing to Trump's ego. He loves a big splash and it lets the UK get a couple of things done with the US.

Trump rowed back on his comment about Zelensky being a dictator. Let's see how their meeting pans out.

Twinklytoots · 28/02/2025 07:36

spuddy4 · 28/02/2025 04:17

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.

Same

BobnLen · 28/02/2025 07:35

I laughed at the letter giving, it looked a bit farcical, I'm surprised the others there could contain themselves.

Zonder · 28/02/2025 07:35

spuddy4 · 28/02/2025 04:17

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.

Trump doesn't know what he thinks from one day to another (did I say Zelensky's a dictator?) so Starmer (and no doubt Macron behind him) pulled a smooth move. Trump now thinks the UK loves him.

violetsorrengail · 28/02/2025 07:34

Starmer did a grand job. Can you imagine if that was Liz Truss! We'd be at war with them by now.

ItisIbeserk · 28/02/2025 07:34

It’s diplomacy. We’re seeing stuff in the open that often plays out behind closed doors. We are absolutely are leveraging our soft power and doing what we can to get what we (and Ukraine, and Europe) want out of Trump. It’s really not comfortable to watch on one level but Trump forces this sort of stuff.

Thejugglestruggle · 28/02/2025 07:33

Agree with pp. I think Starmer did the best he could in an almost impossible situation.
The alternative is the new German Chancellor's response. It might feel good in the moment, but the reality of the current situation is Trump will likely make ordinary Germans/EU citizens pay for the grandstanding.
Let's see if he actually follows through with the no tariff promise, though. In the same press conference, he denied calling Zelensky a dictator. So we are all still guessing this stage!

RominaDina · 28/02/2025 07:33

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 28/02/2025 01:39

This is a joint effort between Starmer and Macron. They are absolutely working in tandem.

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This - they completely understand the situation.

RominaDina · 28/02/2025 07:33

GreyAreas · 28/02/2025 07:31

Might as well play the hand you have. Starmer did well.

He did. He's not a fool.

RominaDina · 28/02/2025 07:32

PullTheBricksDown · 28/02/2025 01:01

This. If getting palace visits and state dinners is something Trump wants, we can give him that. No one dies, and in fact it may save lives.

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I agree. Soft diplomacy 👍

GreyAreas · 28/02/2025 07:31

Might as well play the hand you have. Starmer did well.

SocksShmocks · 28/02/2025 07:30

PermanentTemporary · 28/02/2025 07:13

I thought Starmer did a great job, AND it was embarrassing. Just the reality of being a small country with a big past and an uncertain future. But also the nature of diplomacy and democracy. If a major power votes for someone, however unpredictable, we've got to find some kind of connection.

@MsAmerica I wish I still felt the same about visiting America, we'd planned a big trip in 2026 but I just don't want to do it at the moment. Still love so much about the US in general though.

100% this. Well articulated. “the reality of being a small country with a big past and an uncertain future”.

we have to try something. No point in being proud if there’s an opportunity to leverage Trump’s vanity

cait967 · 28/02/2025 07:27

AtomicBlondeRose · 28/02/2025 07:25

I laughed out loud at “really special”. Like if you’re giving small children something and one of them has to have a different colour cup…”no, this is the SPECIAL one” 😂

It’s probably got a colour by numbers knighthood on the back

madamweb · 28/02/2025 07:26

Is musk going to take Melanie's place as the plus one?

AtomicBlondeRose · 28/02/2025 07:25

I laughed out loud at “really special”. Like if you’re giving small children something and one of them has to have a different colour cup…”no, this is the SPECIAL one” 😂

CarefulN0w · 28/02/2025 07:21

AutumnCrow2 · 28/02/2025 01:34

I reckon this could extend to the UK dangling the idea of some kind of honorary gong in front of him and his lady wife. 'Lady Starmer sends her kindest regards to the First Lady, Mrs Trump ... His Majesty the King would love to meet her when he has a free moment away from bestowing honours on the worthy ... we value the long-standing friends of the UK very much ...'

Though Trump probably really wants a Nobel Peace Prize, even if he has to share it with someone. Starmer knows that. He's Blair to the core.

DH and me were discussing the levels of the state visit in last night.

You want horses and carriages? look again at those tariffs Donnny boy.

Photo ops with King & Queen are included in your original package. Oh, you want the super pass with Kate & Wills? Well about calling Zelensky a Dictator...

I mean, the handing over of the letter was the cringiest thing possible, but kudos to Starmer for keeping a straight face.

MyKingdomforaNewUsername · 28/02/2025 07:19

Trump has a high regard for the UK.

The video of Starmer giving the invitation was nauseating "it's unprecedented, this is really special"

It was cringey and clever. Starmer is fighting for Ukraine here. And us!

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