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 UK’s response to his request for military assistance — and made clear he was not impressed.
He said: “The UK, which was sort of considered the Rolls-Royce of allies – 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 I’d like to ask my team.” Trump then mocked the response, adding: “I said you don’t have to worry about a team, you’re the Prime Minister, you can make a decision. ‘Well, I have to speak to my people’ – I said you don’t have to speak to anybody. So it’s very disappointing.”
The US president went on to claim Britain offered support only after American forces had already neutralised the threat.
“And then after we obliterated their military and it became a much safer zone, he said we’re gonna send over two aircraft carriers. I said I don’t want them anymore,” Trump said.
“I don’t want them after we win, I want them before we start. I don’t need your aircraft carriers after we’ve already won. Those things are very disappointing.”
Trump later doubled down on his criticism, insisting Britain should be “enthusiastically” 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 didn’t want to make this journey. I’m going to create a safer world. If I didn’t 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 “viable, collective plan” to restore freedom of navigation through the strategic shipping route — 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 harm’s way.
