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

It was a pragmatic and sensibly handled start.

Anyone complaining that an FTA wasnt done and dusted yesterday is an idiot.

The minerals deal will primarily be a matter for Zelensky and Trump. They meet tomorrow - why would Starmer pre-empt something he can't negotiate.

That was a joke/backtrack

You must be joking, did you miss the parts where Starmer and the journalists threw the EU under the bus?

It's not a bad move but I hope the lives it saves will make up for the lives lost by slashing the foreign aid budget.

I voted Labour and had lots of hopes for this government but I'm starting to find them highly unpleasant. Almost as populist as the tories. Of the last 4 labour leaders keir starmer definitely has the lowest morals. Maybe that's why he managed to win the election.

How did they persuade the palace to use a Sharpie? This is top rate diplomacy.

Starmer played him like a fiddle. Starmer and Macron definitely a tag team. Fingers crossed for Zelensky today.

Yes they are - the questions afterwards were dire. Did that suit both men? Absolutely.

Why do we have this pantomime? Because of the media.

Didn’t think I’d ever find myself feeling sorry for Keir Starmer and David Lammy, but here we are. Well done on his handling of the giant toddler.

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

Indeed, @Wildflowers99. I'm as centrist as they come, but thought even at the time that this was a serious mistake

Possibly they believed the polls, or perhaps it was just the usual leftist habit of never accepting they could be wrong, but either way I wouldn't expect Trump to forget it

The close up of the letter says Balmoral

I agree. Trump committed to nothing and changes his mind on a daily basis anyway. It's all game playing.

Yes very amusing, the cringe factor was huge.

How embarrassing to watch our supposer leader bow and scrape with his silly letter.

KS looked like a rabbit in the headlights as always. Loved his wail 'but but we do have free speech in the UK we do!' When Vance had pointed out no, we don't.

I wondered that! Was it a piss take, but Trump didn't realise?

I don't know about that. Starmer played his hand well. That is not the same as playing Trump at all. This idea Trump is stupid is wrong. He has a hard edge which you see occasionally but he is a sharp man.

I bet someone tested a few versions to camera beforehand, and decided that would show up best.

They bet correctly that Trump would feel the need to show everyone: "Look! Look! I got a letter from the King! The real King!"

Really not. The best way to get what you want is to make the other person think they have.

Trump and Putin are after minerals, the rest is theatre for us not to notice.

I think this is right. We don't yet know how things are going to pan out, and with hindsight, this could end up looking like a diplomatic masterstroke or a pathetic attempt at appeasement.

The difficulty for Starmer is that he doesn't really have any other hands to play at this point. The UK, even with European allies, doesn't have the might to stand up to the US and Russia, so seeking to influence is their only option.

Time will tell whether or not their influence is enough to achieve any positive impact, but for the time being, I think Starmer has played the hand that he was dealt as effectively as he could have done. He was clearly very well briefed and well rehearsed, and he had liaised closely with European allies to establish an agreed approach. We can only hope that, between them, they are able to steer Trump in a different direction from the one in which he appeared to be headed. Otherwise we're all fucked.

This is how Putin got Trump's attention in the first place, he would have played to his shallow need for admiration. Starmer is paying Trump like a fiddle and it's embarrassing that Trump doesn't realise it. Diplomacy and soft skills at it's best, that is until someone else throws something shiny in front of Donald's face and he's distracted again. It's like a todder is in charge of the USA........
Plus, if the initial invite is to Balmoral, it is much easier to manage crowds/protesters.

Trump's UK based businesses are in Scotland. He is brokering deals for his golf courses from the White House (reps from PGA and Saudi wealth fund visited recently). A visit to Balmoral fits.

I don’t think Trump is being ‘played like a fiddle’, but I think Starmer has played on his weak spot as Trump seems to have genuine affection and respect for the Royals and his Scottish ancestry. I can see the letter invites him to Balmoral, which is a stroke of genius really. He’ll enjoy a big pomp as splendour state visit, complete with bagpipes and some kind of history/roots tour. I don’t think he cares for Starmer but the letter was his shield and Trump wasn’t going to batter it.

I think this needs to be a lesson to Labour never, ever to interfere in a US election ever again. It was a disastrously stupid move that is now taking some serious diplomacy to row back from and has put us on the back foot.

Come on people, it was absolutely embarrassing, almost cringey. I don't know what all the reporters were on about. S. touching T.'s shoulder on few occassions... I know he was intensely tutored for that meeting, but... yuck! And he didn't really get anything... he went there for Ukraine, he got nothing... vague promises of a quick trade deal, as if to say... leave Ukraine, we will make a good trade deal.

It’s painful like watching Wolf Hall. All the necessary flattering and managing of Trump, He is a disgusting would-be Henry the 8th figure who is totally unfit for democratic public office. He is aiming for king like absolute power and is led by whims and feud.
Yet Trump is who large sections of America wanted, and so we have to deal with him. As a lesson in practical diplomacy it was really well done. I would be absolutely fascinated if the royal houses of Europe got together and somehow saved the day in this situation together. If Trump could be invited to endless royal jaunts he could be kept away from causing as much trouble for four years?

I agree with @rummly and @MrsBennetsPoorNerves. Starmer did well, but what happens further down the line is key. It could all possibly come back to haunt him.

He’s managed to forget he called Zelenskyy a dictator so it’s not too much of a stretch. I’m delighted to see some statesmanship and pragmatism. It’s got to be kid gloves all the way to navigate the next four years.

I don't think anyone expected any deals to be made at that meeting. Yes it was a bit cringey, but I am not sure how else Starmer could have handled it? What do you think he should have done differently?