United Kingdom Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has praised United States President Donald Trump for his significant role in securing the recent ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza.
This recognition occurred during a phone conversation between the two leaders on Sunday, following Trump’s earlier commendation of Sir Keir’s leadership, calling his performance “very good thus far” and highlighting their “very good relationship.”
Before his official return to office, the Trump administration collaborated closely with the outgoing President Joe Biden’s team to finalize the agreement between Israel and Hamas earlier this month.
President Trump welcomed the release of Emily Damari, a 28-year-old British-Israeli hostage, who was among the first three hostages freed by Hamas after the ceasefire was established just days before his inauguration. A Hamas representative credited Trump for pushing mediators toward an agreement, referencing his stern warning of “hell to pay” if hostages were not released and his pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu through a dispatched envoy.
The 45-minute phone call reportedly focused on areas of mutual agreement, with Downing Street highlighting discussions on Middle Eastern security. Sir Keir also shared his government’s plans to “deregulate to boost growth,” referencing his proposal to restrict repeated legal challenges against major infrastructure planning decisions. This follows support from his chancellor for Heathrow Airport expansion.
Trump’s deregulatory stance aligns with that of his advisor, Elon Musk, who has criticized regulations as barriers to innovation. However, Musk remains critical of Sir Keir, even calling for his removal over the grooming gangs scandal—a claim Sir Keir firmly denies as “lies and misinformation.”
During the conversation, Trump expressed condolences to Sir Keir for the Boxing Day death of his brother, Nick, and expressed admiration for the UK Royal Family. Trump, whose Scottish heritage connects him to the monarchy, has long voiced his support for the royals, recently praising Prince William as a “good man” after meeting him in France.
Sir Keir later posted on X, saying, “I look forward to meeting soon to strengthen the close ties between our countries.”
The two leaders have previously met during Sir Keir’s visit to Trump Tower in New York, but an upcoming visit to Washington—confirmed by Foreign Secretary David Lammy—will mark their first meeting since Trump resumed the presidency.
While trade was discussed, neither Downing Street nor the White House mentioned tariffs, which Trump has threatened to impose on several nations. A proposed deal regarding the Chagos Islands, home to a joint US-UK military base, also went unaddressed. Instead, the call’s focus remained on fostering “a fair bilateral economic relationship,” according to the White House’s statement.