Kowtowing to Trump

Shinamae

Time will tell…..

Yes, particularly bearing in mind Trumps unpredictability.

Good article in The Economist describing Trumps presidency as a Mafia outfit. That really tells you all you need to know.

So basically Trump achieved his aim. Forcing Europe to up the ante on defence. Result. Europe has been tardy in this respect for too long, now they act.

No matter what we think of Trump world leaders have to deal with him. Starmer and Macron made the best of a bad job.
Now they need to double down on strengthening Europe’s defences.

We finally finished paying the U.S. and Canada for war reparations in December 2006. So I guess Ukraine will have to do the same one way or the other. I'm no fan of Starmer but I thought, bearing in mind how unpredictable D.T is, that he handled that press conference pretty well. I don't think you need to pity the King, like his mother, he is well capable of handling all sorts of leaders, with charm and diplomacy, even Ceausescu!

Barleyfields

Of course Trump wanted his State visit. He’s a shallow narcissist. We knew an invitation would be forthcoming so there’s no brownie points for Starmer in that. It remains to be seen how Trump will treat the UK after he’s had his ego stroked with pomp and pageantry. He wouldn’t queer his pitch before that. I wouldn’t trust him an inch.

Will Khan allow an orange Trump baby balloon wearing a nappy to float above London when Trump visits again? That was so disrespectful.

Time will tell…..

So do I, Mamie. They've done what they had to do.

Mamie

I think both Starmer and Macron have done a good job in dealing with Trump.

Yes I do agree.

Now they must look to themselves and sort out defence of Europe pdq

I think both Starmer and Macron have done a good job in dealing with Trump.

Galaxy

Well in general the media are way way out of line with what people are thinking.

What people?

The growing figures of podcasts etc, the way young people access social media, the way Joe Rogan was important and say oprah Winfrey wasnt as important. Newspaper declining readership.

Starmer did what was necessary.

I have absolutely no doubt that the words stuck in his craw - but he did a good job.

Galaxy

People in general are moving away from MSM, and certainly have less trust in them. Its partly what happened in the states, and particularly applies to the way young people access information.

Yes, I’ve heard this before, but where is the source of highly accurate intel?

We don’t live in the dark ages Galaxy, I’m sure everybody already knows that, and most of us have young people in our lives who keep us abreast of what’s happening on social media? When it comes to a meeting like that I trust the world media more than I trust the views of individuals on social media to know how well the meeting went compared with how it could have gone.

I think we should thank the King. From what I’ve read Charles has been writing to Trump over the past 4 years so kept the channels open even when everyone thought Trump was dead and buried. So I don’t think Starmer had to persuade King Charles. I think Charles will do his best for this country, including inviting Trump to Balmoral when Trump is visiting his golf course in Scotland.

It was like a comedy act listening to Starmer buttering up Trump. He’s now being called Starmer the Charmer.

It doesn’t surprise me that some on here are criticising KS. He can do nothing right for some people🤷‍♀️

What do these armchair critics suggest he could have done that would have been better for all concerned - UK, Ukraine & Europe?

You couldn’t get more different people than Trump and Starmer.

Starmer - whatever his private opinion about Trumpmand his chaotic and unpleasant transactional policies - is the prime Minister of the U.K., and as such is responsible for doing what is best for the U.K. however you may think of Starmer - the straight-laced legal beagle - it is thought by most (DM and other like rags, excepted) that he did a good job watching the UKs back.

The only unresolved issue - not unexpectedly- is defence.

I think now all eyes in Europe must turn to their leaders and expect them to step up.

Wyllow3

You can never please people! If Starmer had messed up - and that wouldn't be hard with Trump - I can just imagine the criticism doled out on here.

It's called diplomacy folks. Relations established. He made his point on US back up re Ukraine, Gaza 2 state solution, tariff discussions. How much impact re Ukraine, we can't know.

As far as I'm concerned its so far so good.

Perhaps a critic would like to say what Starmer should have one instead? I

Absolutely!

People in general are moving away from MSM, and certainly have less trust in them. Its partly what happened in the states, and particularly applies to the way young people access information.

Galaxy

Well in general the media are way way out of line with what people are thinking.

Who are ‘people’?

I know it’s called Diplomacy but I could not bring myself to see Starmer cosying up to —that duplicitous git— Trump on the News last night.
Yes, I cringed too.

Casdon

Barleyfields

Of course Trump wanted his State visit. He’s a shallow narcissist. We knew an invitation would be forthcoming so there’s no brownie points for Starmer in that. It remains to be seen how Trump will treat the UK after he’s had his ego stroked with pomp and pageantry. He wouldn’t queer his pitch before that. I wouldn’t trust him an inch.

Surely only a fool would trust Trump Barleyfields. It was no surprise that he even denied he had called Zelensky a dictator - and that was only a week ago.

Of course Trump isn't trustable - you work with whats in front of you tho. No choice. Would make me sick to sit down with him too.

Again, critics, what should Starmer have done differently?

We have to remember that Trump is, whatever the opinion of anyone in any other country, the elected head of State of the USA. Heads of state (or their representatives) have to talk to one another on subjects that affect both their countries - and also of other countries and the relations with them.

If Starmer had walked into the White House looking angry and told Trump to stop it this minute and do what Starmer ordered him to, what do you think Trump would have done? I predict that he would have stomped his little feet, had a 4th grade strop and done the exact opposite, with knobs on.

Sttarmer charmed him into a reasonable agreement, as an adult does, from a position of his own experience and intelligence. Anything else would have achieved nothing. King Charles will do the same. Their style is not the same as Trump's. No need to copy him.

GrannyGravy13

Wyllow3 I totally understand that we have to work with other leaders/governments with different views to ourselves.

So far the PM seems to have avoided tariffs which the USA is throwing out like poisoned sweeties.

With that in mind maybe when in opposition our MP’s should remember this, when making the most derogatory remarks about other leaders.

A fair few of the current front bench of the Labour Party have in the past made public their opinions on POTUS Trump and these are being used against them in the media, along with being brought up in any interviews undertaken by them.

The world situation now has somewhat opened my eyes.

Trump has much power currently.

The EU has been exposed as a lot weaker than I thought.

The Uk is weaker on the world stage than I thought.

Eu and Uk defence systems weak.

People, even GNs, change their minds on things quite substantially, when world circumstances change,

The one question I havent worked out yet is, is the old system of Germany not being allowed, or wanting to be, strong on defence, still standing?
Or has that all changed now as well?

Well in general the media are way way out of line with what people are thinking.