Trump criticises Starmer over UK’s military role

President Donald Trump told the UK it did not need to send aircraft carriers to the Middle East and accused Prime Minister Keir Starmer of wanting to join conflicts after the United States had already achieved its objectives. On his social platform he dismissed plans being discussed in London to deploy two carriers and said the US did not need them. The Ministry of Defence has placed HMS Prince of Wales on advanced readiness, with her crew told to be ready to sail within five days, while HMS Queen Elizabeth remains out of action for the foreseeable future. Reports say US bomber jets have landed in the UK as American forces use British bases for specific defensive operations. Trump repeated his view while travelling on Air Force One that it was too late to send ships and later told television viewers he did not much care what other allies chose to do, saying those already committed were the loyal ones. The dispute began after the UK initially refused US requests to use British bases for joint action with Israel against Iran. Starmer subsequently authorised defensive strikes by US aircraft against Iranian missile sites from RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia, stressing the government does not support regime change from the skies. He told MPs that Trump had expressed disagreement with the earlier decision but defended his duty to act in Britain’s national interest and said the special relationship remains intact, with intelligence being shared around the clock. In a Sunday Mirror piece Starmer argued the country needs seriousness rather than political games and said his government is focused on protecting people at home and abroad. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused him of sitting on the fence and being too afraid to decide. The UK will also send the Royal Navy ship HMS Dragon, which has air-defence capabilities, to the Mediterranean to bolster security around RAF Akrotiri after the base was targeted by drones; the ship is expected to depart next week. Trump has continued to criticise Starmer, including complaints that US planes had to fly extra hours when earlier denied base access, and his comments have strained a relationship Starmer once cited as a key achievement of his premiership. Former prime minister Tony Blair urged allies to show up regardless of who occupies the White House and described the US as an indispensable cornerstone of UK security. Downing Street has not publicly responded to the latest remarks.