The final day of Donald Trump’s state visit concluded with a joint press conference held between the prime minister and his US counterpart held at the PM’s country home, Chequers.
Speaking to journalists, the prime minister hailed the "historic second state visit," claiming it was "a moment to celebrate the unique bond between our two countries".
Responding to a wide-range of questions, the at times unpredictable US president, expressed his disappointment in Russian President Vladimir Putin, admitting the conflict had been more difficult to solve than the 24 hours he famously once claimed it would take.
On questions of Palestinian statehood, a key point of difference in UK-US foreign policy, the president was keen to direct conversation to the ongoing plight of the hostages and the atrocities committed by Hamas on October 7 2023.
In a moment of advice on immigration for Starmer, who today celebrated the first deportation of a migrant under the new returns deal, Trump appeared to suggest using the military, a nod to his increased use of US armed forces in solving domestic issues at home.
A sigh of relief was perhaps shared that the issue of the recently sacked Peter Mandelson, which has dogged British politics over the last two weeks was quickly resolved with the president claiming, despite much evidence to the contrary, he never knew the former British ambassador.
Speaking before taking questions from reporters, the US president claimed the Russian leader, Vladimir Putin, had "really let [him] down."
Trump claimed he had thought the conflict in Ukraine would be the easiest to solve on account of his relationship with the Russian president.
Prior to his election, the US president famously claimed he could end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine in 24 hours after taking office.
Speaking on Thursday, Trump explained: "You never know in war, you know, war is a different thing.
"Things happen that are the very opposite of what you thought. You thought you were going to have an easy time or a hard time, and it turns out to be the reverse."
Trump described Ukraine as "the apple of [Putin’s] eye," when asked if negotiations had "run out of road," but stopped short of ruling out further talks or immediate increased sanctions.
Reminding the president of the ongoing damage being done by the conflict, Starmer added: "It’s only when the president has put pressure on Putin that he’s actually shown any inclination to move.
"We have to ramp that pressure up."
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