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

That is four years old.

The UK royal family means very very little to anyone outside of the UK. Period. I realise it must be somewhat reassuring to believe in the institution of the RF but it simply isn’t the case outside of the UK anymore than the Spanish or Romanian or Bulgarian royal families are relevant to anyone outside of Spain or Romania or Bulgaria, other than the UK one is like a soap opera which creates a bit more gossip and interest.

Trump’s re election has brought in a very different Trump.

You keep telling yourself that. You’re not convincing anyone else.

I'm not sure it's really that clever. Surely offering shiny and appealing things while smiling and using positive and flattering language is a fairly standard toddler-wrangling method that most mothers master very quickly?

He might not care about the royal family but he definitely cares about the pomp and ceremony of a state visit.

You keep telling yourself that. You’re not convincing anyone else

I don’t need to convince anyone. I’m not in a bubble in the UK. I am looking in from the outside. Apart from gossip and scandal, the British Royle family are no more relevant outside the UK than the Romanian or Dutch royal families are. It is simply a fact. But believe if you will that the British royals are more important to non British people than any other other royal family.

Romanian royals?

@Sleepington Perhaps posting about our Prime Minister from outside our ‘bubble’ is why you don’t see it in the same way we do. Starmer used British sarcasm and wit on Trump which was easily understood by British audience but not as much by American viewers. He offered Trump a token of faith that cost him nothing and was a smart political move.

How are those big roubles working out for you?

I’m not sure the British royals are as popular as you seem to think they are in Britain. At best most people are a bit ambivalent.

Euros.

I know it’s easy and somewhat lazy to say that anybody who doesn’t think
Starmer is a world class politician is a bot. However I’m your neighbour so no rubles here. Just looking on feeling quite sad about how Zelensky was ambushed by the same two bullies who Starmer held out snivelling a snivelling invitation to.

Exactly. This person knows nothing.

Very true. This is a reminder to all of us that they come in handy sometimes.

Starmer is meeting Zelenskyy this afternoon and is hosting a summit with European leaders on Sunday

It really wasn’t some amazing chess move. It was scraping the barrel to get Trump on side to strike a trade deal because the UK is fucked after Brexit.

All we can do is hope that the Republicans who he is actively looking to fire from their jobs manage to impeach him. Not sure if that is possible.

I just read Starmer said he will put boots on the ground and planes in the air to support a peace deal.

I hadn’t seen that before now.

In these crazy times, I assume he means to support Ukraine. Europe together then. Thankfully.

Britain is legally obliged to help Ukraine @Sleepington. If you are in a bubble, one assumes a neutral country, then you don't see it like that. The UK has actual commitments to Ukraine. We are trying to honour them.

I just read Starmer said he will put boots on the ground and planes in the air to support a peace deal.

This was only if US provided a 'back stop' after the deal

Troops are minimal 30k and are peacekeepers

Unless what you've just read is an update on that

I think Starmer played his card too soon by actually giving the invitation. He should have said he hoped that they could work well together and hoped to organise a second state visit in the future.

Starmer’s card is utterly irrelevant now.

I think he played it just on time. It was a symbol that the U.K. are friendly and acting in good faith. The audience for the gesture wasn’t Trump but other international leaders and the populations of friendly countries.

It was a signal that the U.K. government is behaving in an open, friendly manner and that they are willing to talk. When Trump rejects this it will be his choice and therefore his fault. It’s international relations 101. It’s exactly what Trump doesn’t understand.

Starmer has an eye to negotiojs with other world leader. He can legitimately say ‘Look, we tried and he’s proved himself a mad man.’

Zelenskyy is meeting the King tomorrow. Suddenly the card becomes relevant as fuck.

Incorrect
Although Donald may tantrum over it now

The card was relevant when it was played, things have moved on now.

Also, it was for a state visit, not just for a meeting. Two completely different things.

I agree though that Trump will be miffed about it.

What is really cringeworthy is that apparently Charles has been writing to Trump for the last four years

Where did you get that from - other than an overactive imagination?