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

This. And as an aside, can Trump not read? The letter thing was really odd. Looking for the signature and then passing it to Starmer to tell the press what it said.

I am not sure what The Plan is from the Government, but I hope there is one. This meeting certainly looked very very well planned and coached, so I think there probably is one. Pretty sure we're not just sucking up to the US and that there is a strategy (see also Macron).

We sold our dignity yesterday and it was cringeworthy to watch.

I did enjoy watching Keir Starmer having to thank Trump for restoring a statue of Churchill to the oval office after he removed a giant Margaret Thatcher painting from his own though.

It was cringeworthy but also incredibly well done watching Starmer attempt to press every one of the "jackpot" buttons on Trump's ego.

I kind of had the lines from "The Room Where It Happens" from Hamilton running through my mind watching it. DD1 (aged 12) had the only comment of "bloody hell, he's gone even MORE orange, he looks more ridiculous than Boris Johnson" (DD1 spent most of the Covid Pandemic working out if she could form a political party to get her school back open and flush Boris down the toilet so she's rather politically astute/terrifying)

There's no way in a normal political dynamic the whole cabinet would sit quietly while Trump joked about "throwing them out" if they said they didn't like Musk. There's something quite massively wrong.

Yes. The cabinet even broke into applause.

It reminds of a piece of film of a Saddam Hussain addressing a conference hall. He successively denounced some of those present as traitors, and they were hauled out by guards as he spoke.

As the speech progressed, the remaining audience clapped each denunciation louder and more desperately, each afraid that if they didn't it would be them next.

He seems to have played the role well that was required.

Starmer is fighting for himself, and his useless lackey that’s pissed off America, Lammy.

Exactly what we said last night! She will probably have a strategic chest infection!

It's fascinating in a way.

Whilst people are happy and cheering a King's letter Trump and Putin carve up minerals.

The real power isn't in making people beam at the former, it's getting economic gain and resources with the latter.

But we're now distracted and think we've beaten him, so we're happy and they are more so.

It’s like we’re back to medieval politics now. All about grace,and favour and flattery. It’s Henry VIII and the Field of Cloth of Gold. The more it changes, the more it stays the same..

@NeelyOHara "Starmer is fighting for himself, and his useless lackey that’s pissed off America, Lammy."

Could you say some more about this?

It was utterly cringeworthy; well done to Starmer for pulling it off. If you think he overdid it, try watching the first Cabinet meeting from Trump's first presidency. He made everyone round the table start by thanking him profusely for letting them serve, with a good dollop of arse-licking. I cringed myself into pretzels just watching it!

This. And as an aside, can Trump not read? The letter thing was really odd. Looking for the signature and then passing it to Starmer to tell the press what it said.

@FiveFoxes - I seem to remember reading that Trump has terrible eyesight, but won't wear glasses. Apparently, the font on his autocue is huge and this contributes to his stilted delivery because there are too few words on the screen to show what is coming next.

Starmer may have got results. Or he may not. Time will tell.

At the moment I’m inclined to give Starmer the win, mostly because Trump’s words were warmer than for other leaders and countries. I judge Trump’s instincts as more ‘Anglo’ than European - an unexpected Brexit dividend! (The exact opposite of Biden.)

This could end up being very embarrassing for Starmer though. Turning up as a fawning baron from some distant province and pledging allegiance, armed with his king’s letter of introduction, must turn a lot of Labour MPs’ stomachs. And if the reality turns out to be thin gruel or just disdain, it will be very hard to recover from.

Very much with you on that, spuddy4; we're all stuck with Trump and somehow have to make the best of it, but I don't imagine this will change his underlying attitudes towards a tiny country that matters little but has rather a lot of people who've insulted him

Also agree that they'll probably dangle some honorary gong in front of him, and by the time he's finished listening to Charles's maunderings about this and that he may well deserve it

This could end up being very embarrassing for Starmer though. Turning up as a fawning baron from some distant province and pledging allegiance, armed with his king’s letter of introduction, must turn a lot of Labour MPs’ stomachs. And if the reality turns out to be thin gruel or just disdain, it will be very hard to recover from.

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

If only ‘The Windsors’ was still on. This would be great material!

To be fair if he can tolerate being ambushed for hand shaking by Gerry Adams, this will be nothing

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

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

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,

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.

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.

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

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.

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.