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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:
Linens · 28/02/2025 07:56

Macrons “hand on arm” technique has obviously been seized by Starmer. The amount of touching!

sparrowflewdown · 28/02/2025 07:58

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.

I agree. I don't actually think Trump looked that impressed, he certainly didn't seem warm towards Starmer.

Trump is basically carving the Ukraine's resources up with Russia and making Starmer and Europe look incredibly weak and stupid. It was painful to watch tbh.

StScholastica · 28/02/2025 07:58

Well it's a PR Trump for the Royal Family.

I think Trump is also well aware of how much his air force benefits from being stationed here.

PerkingFaintly · 28/02/2025 07:59

He's Blair to the core.

Of course we have Mandelson as US Ambassador. I'm sure he'll have been part of the team advising Starmer.

I despise him Mandelson for some of his actions under Blair, but he's oily, manipulative and intensely politically astute: perfect for dealing with Trump.

sparrowflewdown · 28/02/2025 08:00

Linens · 28/02/2025 07:56

Macrons “hand on arm” technique has obviously been seized by Starmer. The amount of touching!

Yes that was inappropriate.

LillyPJ · 28/02/2025 08:01

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.

You can imagine this sort of plot line in a traditional fairy tale: evil ruler, rich bully, handsome young pauper, kindly wise prince, priceless jewels, battles etc.

OneLemonGuide · 28/02/2025 08:02

Lovemybunnies · 28/02/2025 01:36

I’m worried it will separate us from Europe. Trump can’t be trusted.

No one is trusting Trump in any of this.

CurlewKate · 28/02/2025 08:03

Starmer did well. And the RF can earn its keep for once.

There is so much skilled diplomacy behind everything that happens. I see the hand of Peter Mandelson.....

Futb · 28/02/2025 08:03

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 28/02/2025 01:35

I'd love to have been a fly on the wall when this was discussed between Starmer and Charles. I can just imagine the King saying "but do we really have to?", and the PM saying, "yes, your majesty, I'm afraid you do".

And then perhaps Camilla turning the air blue when she was informed! 😂

That’s what I was thinking. Bet Charles was like “FFS really?!” 🤣

sparrowflewdown · 28/02/2025 08:03

LillyPJ · 28/02/2025 08:01

You can imagine this sort of plot line in a traditional fairy tale: evil ruler, rich bully, handsome young pauper, kindly wise prince, priceless jewels, battles etc.

Show quote history

Yes it felt exactly like that. Starmer the coach-man clutching a letter from a faraway King to give to the powerful Sultan. I thought a magic carpet was going to come out at one-point.

PerkingFaintly · 28/02/2025 08:03

I think Trump is also well aware of how much his air force benefits from being stationed here.

Given his unawareness of almost everything, I doubt that.

During his last state visit, Trump was apparently surprised to learn that the UK had nuclear weapons. There aren't many nuclear powers in the world and it's kinda important for a US President to know which countries might nuke him if he pisses them off. But no, quite some distance into his term he was blissfully unaware.

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 28/02/2025 08:06

Z

Mielikki · 28/02/2025 08:07

Lovemybunnies · 28/02/2025 01:36

I’m worried it will separate us from Europe. Trump can’t be trusted.

Not at all. Macron and Starmer had a long call last weekend and planned to work together. Macron is bad cop (pushing Trump over guarantees, correcting h when he lies), Starmer is good cop (offering state visits etc).

it might just work, or Trump might just wake up today having forgotten all about it and do something else.

Futb · 28/02/2025 08:07

When I watched the news I was cringing and the Trump ‘Trump’ card was when he presented the invitation to meet the Royals.

I get it of course, he has to play all of his ‘Trump’ cards to flatter him but I nearly vomited watching him have to suck up and Trump lapping it up.

Sucking up and Lapping up! 🫣🤣🤢

bombastix · 28/02/2025 08:10

A back of the net performance by Starmer. Trump loves theatre, so it was well done.

Thank god we do have some people in this country who do actually think ahead.

The economic collaboration discussed is really important for the UK, so it was positive. The US will move a lot faster than the EU on that and in many ways has more to offer.

marmaladeandpeanutbutter · 28/02/2025 08:10

Oh we were all cringing. He practically cuddled him.

Moonlightstars · 28/02/2025 08:11

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.

We're the same just cancelled plans to go to the US with friends. Canada is getting our money instead!

anotherside · 28/02/2025 08:12

Britain shouldn’t be rolling the red carpet for a leader who is real time planning ethnic cleansing of an entire region. Starmer is already complicit up to his eyeballs.

cheezncrackers · 28/02/2025 08:12

Trump is easy to play like a fiddle and the US Ambassador is playing a blinder with him this time. The first time around they got it all wrong, insulting him and upsetting him. He's like a big, spoilt baby, and that's how they're treating him and he's lapping it up 😆

Mielikki · 28/02/2025 08:12

bombastix · 28/02/2025 08:10

A back of the net performance by Starmer. Trump loves theatre, so it was well done.

Thank god we do have some people in this country who do actually think ahead.

The economic collaboration discussed is really important for the UK, so it was positive. The US will move a lot faster than the EU on that and in many ways has more to offer.

The economic cooperation will consist of “we aren’t going to slap you with massive tariffs”. Nothing more.

Tubs11 · 28/02/2025 08:14

keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
It was so cringe that I do wonder if the overly theatrical and out of character stance was a wink wink, nod nod, we know you know to the British people. Like some kind of comedy sketch.

RumpledSilkSkin · 28/02/2025 08:15

Looks like starker arse licking to Trump

Shodan · 28/02/2025 08:16

I think the touching was very clever. Such a patronising move, a shoulder pat, I've always thought.

Oft-used as an attempt to placate an 'uppity' woman.

bombastix · 28/02/2025 08:17

It tends to be forgotten that Trump already negotiated with the UK under the Conservatives for a FTA. The economics of this are important to the UK. We need the US and their tech industry which the EU cannot offer us.

A FTA removes the tariff threat for good. This looks good in principle,

ThreeThousand · 28/02/2025 08:17

I despise Trump (and his sidekick Chump). I imagine will enjoy his carriage ride and the state toadying. Then he'll do the dirty on us. This might placate him today but I think all he's really interested in is the bottom line.