Fox News ground to a halt as President Donald Trump launched a blistering attack on Sir Keir Starmer during a White House press conference on Iran, slamming the Prime Minister for failing to back the United States when it mattered most. Speaking as tensions escalated over the Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, Trump singled out the UKās response to his request for military assistance ā and made clear he was not impressed.
He said: āThe UK, which was sort of considered the Rolls-Royce of allies ā I said it would be really helpful if you could send over a couple of ships, and do you have some minesweepers, which they do, that would be very helpful. And the Prime Minister, who is a nice man, says well Iād like to ask my team.ā Trump then mocked the response, adding: āI said you donāt have to worry about a team, youāre the Prime Minister, you can make a decision. āWell, I have to speak to my peopleā – I said you donāt have to speak to anybody. So itās very disappointing.ā
The US president went on to claim Britain offered support only after American forces had already neutralised the threat.
āAnd then after we obliterated their military and it became a much safer zone, he said weāre gonna send over two aircraft carriers. I said I donāt want them anymore,ā Trump said.
āI donāt want them after we win, I want them before we start. I donāt need your aircraft carriers after weāve already won. Those things are very disappointing.ā
Trump later doubled down on his criticism, insisting Britain should be āenthusiasticallyā involved in efforts to reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz as tensions over the crisis intensified.
“I had an obligation to do this,” Trump added. “I didnāt want to make this journey. Iām going to create a safer world. If I didnāt do what I did we would have been hit.”
His comments came after Sir Keir Starmer confirmed the UK was working with allies on a āviable, collective planā to restore freedom of navigation through the strategic shipping route ā but stopped short of committing Britain to military action or becoming involved in a wider war.
The Prime Minister said there had been no final decision on what role the UK would play, despite confirming existing minehunting capabilities in the region.
The strait, a crucial artery for global oil supplies, has become a flashpoint after Iran threatened to target ships it considers linked to the United States, raising fears of attacks and sea mines. The disruption has already sent oil prices soaring and sparked concern about wider economic fallout.
Trump has repeatedly urged allies, including the UK, to deploy naval assets to protect commercial shipping, arguing that global powers must step in to prevent further escalation.
Starmer, however, emphasised that any intervention must be coordinated with international partners, including European and Gulf allies, and carefully assessed before action is taken.
He noted that Britain already has autonomous minehunting systems in the area, though its only permanently based minehunting ship, HMS Middleton, recently returned to Portsmouth for planned maintenance.
Instead, the Royal Navy is expected to rely on newly developed seaborne drones capable of detecting and neutralising mines without putting crews directly in harmās way.
