The Brits are SO smart.

[MsAmerica]

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

He obviously managed quite well as he was knighted for his services and became the DPP and head of the Crown Prosecution Service, that doesn’t happen if you’re ‘out of your depth’.

Oh I don't know, dictators and scary leaders of countries who aren't actual allies?

Yesterday he did well in that he turned up and didn't burst into tears. Those were his 2 achievements.

I live 40 minutes from Balmoral and will not be cheering. I'll be there to peacefully protest. And I won't be alone.

If you care about the future of this country - please don’t. Let’s not engage in any more acts of self sabotage.

Trump and the USA aren't acting much like allies at the moment.

Starmer did well pandering to Trump's vanity. He and Macron are doing a difficult job trying to secure the future of Europe's security, it's hardly surprising if he looks a bit worried at times.

I hear what you're saying but it's one thing Starmer pandering to Trump's vanity - it's another thing trying to get the whole country doing it, when most people detest Trump for the way he's fucking us over.

There is a strategic US military base on the Chagos Islands, we have many historical and ongoing military agreements with the US, they undoubtedly have more sway on the world stage than we do these days so it is in our interests, depending on your point of view, to keep close ties with them. Unlike the lies people were told during the Brexit campaign, the UK need the support and help of other nations more than they need us, that is a fact.

Whatever any of us think of the giant orange moron, it would quite simply be lunacy to put our national security at risk over this situation with the Chagos Islands. Quite simply, the US have us by the balls, and on this point in particular they are calling the shots.

It isn’t about what I think we should spend our money on, it’s about accepting that there are times when you simply have to accept that there are bigger things at play, and this is one of those times.

Apart from they’re not getting the whole country to do it, they’re not summoning us to line the streets and wave US flags are they? It’s unpalatable but necessary so just stay out of it, unless you want tariffs and less ££ being sent to prop up Scotland than usual

It’s painful like watching Wolf Hall

Thank you, @TodayIsTheGreatest ... I'd been scraping my mind for what this reminded me of and that's exactly it!!

Then just ignore it. Don’t actively sabotage it. I imagine it will be carefully stage-managed though anyway.

@LadyBracknellsHandbagg we keep the islands and avoid paying billions to US, but they still have their base

Surely anyone paying UK tax would prefer that?

Looking at Dodd's resignation letter just now where she outlines the risks of slashing foreign aid and growing influence of Russia and China, losing regional power, stopping healthcare and food to desperate people and 'deeply harming the UK's reputation'.

Wouldn't you rather we spent those billions on that? Or if you don't think that's useful more military spend.

Under the circumstances though, it's not really surprising why a lot of people would feel miffed that we have to suck up to Trump. I think protests are going to be pretty inevitable, whether they're advisable or not.

I'm entitled to show my distaste for everything this 'man' stand for. If you have been able to watch the AI video of Trump Gaza or the AMSR post about shackles and not be thoroughly disgusted, then you're different to me.

Pragmatically, yes, tariffs would be economically challenging, but if we continue to appease him what's to stop him from threatening tariffs on anyone and everyone anytime he doesn't get his own way? I'm hoping this diplomatic move gives us time to reduce our reliance on the US, but that will involve individuals too, not just our governments. We've been far too US centric - economically, culturally, militarily - and we need to forge new alliances. The US is only going one way.

I also think it's a real slap in the face to Scotland to have him here, especially in Aberdeenshire where he is universally loathed.

Trump is voting with dictators and leaders of scary countries like North Korea and Russia at the United Nations. He is right up there and the boss of a far more rich and powerful country too, we need to do everything we can to keep him on side. And on that note, much as I would love to boo Trump as he passes now isn't the time to protest. Let him have his stupid tea with Charles and Camilla and let's be grateful to them for sucking it up. Also agree Starmer and Macron have done really well.

Realpolitik, though.

Frankly - what's the alternative? We aren't in a position to force him to do anything.

I thought the meeting went well. Starter countered the main issues ( free speech, Ukraine funding) well and there were a fair few comments about starter negotiating well.
But it all sticks in the throat especially the special relationship, offer from the king. I know its diplomacy but it still hurts. They have been so crass, I just think all trust is gone

Hmm I dunno, Trump is a loose cannon. I'd feel better if HM The Queen and BoJo were still around to deal with him tbh...🤔

With "scary leaders of countries who aren't actual allies", Starmer probably wouldn't have anything like as much to lose.

The stakes were incredibly high at yesterday's meeting, and while the US has historically been an ally, Trump has already demonstrated that we can no longer rely on this. After all, it was only this week when the US decided to vote alongside some of those "countries that aren't actual allies" at the UN - Russia, North Korea, Iran...

Frankly, it would be worrying if Starmer hadn't felt a bit nervous in that situation because that would suggest a concerning lack of understanding of the dangerous geopolitical reality in which we now find ourselves.

Yup and that's why I'm glad it was him and not BoJo, who is also a loose cannon and could easily have put his foot in it

@Panofrashers - you are right that he is already threatening tariffs.

A trade deal would potentially lock better rates between the US and the UK.

Trump has domestic powers to adjust tariffs on countries he does not like. We should aim to be out of that.

That said he is so capricious that you wonder if he would actually honour the terms of his FTAs in the long term. But such deals are frequently renegotiated anyway

Because he won’t do tariffs if we appease him. He’s already rowed back and said we can make a deal without them, probably because we’ve done the necessary ego stroking and he doesn’t want to start his new starry friendship with the Royals under a cloud.

I don’t really care what Scotland thinks. Scotland piggy backs off England, so rather than acting like a child who insists they don’t like the meal while eating it, they should either muck in for the national interests or stop accepting our cash. What makes you think Scottish people are to be tiptoed around and appeased while the English have to do the dirty work?

Your ‘demonstrating’ would do nothing other than make you feel satisfied with yourself. It would do nothing for the causes you speak of above, and seeing as Gaza doesn’t have its own voice to Trump, any best interests they have will not be furthered by taking him on.

Down to practicalities, we need the backing of the USA.
We are a Monarchy, so let him give a letter.

I can’t continue to converse with you if you’re not going to inform yourself about this issue.

It is not an option for us to ‘keep the islands’, they aren’t ours, we forcibly colonised them. We also negotiated a secret deal with the US in 1968 agreeing to lease it one of the largest atolls, Diego Garcia, which is where the military base is, and the US are holding us to that agreement. We are reaping what we have previously sown, so you need to accept that.

@LadyBracknellsHandbagg you still haven't answered on Lammy's quote, why not?

It's hard to converse with you as you keep avoiding that basic piece of information.

We can decide to not go forward as he said.

Can you consider why he said that?

The US is the only NATO country to be reducing their spend over 10 years instead of increasing it, and it pays far less percentage-wise than several other countries now

You're absolutely right, @tallhotpinkflamingo, though it's worth remembering that their much larger economy is the basic reason the US is paying so much

Really, though, it's the perception that they're "paying for everyone else's defence" that sickens so many Americans, and which Trump's playing to - especially when a lot of the recipients are very free with their anti-US insults