Chris Mason: Why Starmer thinks he's called it right on war despite Trump barbs

Chris Mason: Why Starmer thinks he's called it right on war despite Trump barbs 3 hours ago Share Save Chris Mason Political editor Share Save On nearly every occasion President Trump has found himself in front of a camera in the last few days, he has had a pop at the prime minister and at the UK. We have long known the current occupier of the White House is rarely a man of subtlety, but the frequency with which he has repeated his criticisms, often unprompted, stands out. As ever, his language is colourful and quotable. The UK used to be the "Rolls-Royce of allies" he said, adding that he had pleaded with Sir Keir Starmer to be decisive and implying the prime minister couldn't make his mind up without consulting others. Ouch. This is definitely awkward for Starmer, the further souring of his relationship with Trump, but it isn't definitely, wholeheartedly negative from his point of view. Firstly, there is a tussle over the facts - in other words, precisely what was discussed in the calls between the two men in the last few weeks: what was requested and what was offered. Downing Street, as ever, is at pains not to get involved in a public mudslinging contest with the White House. But folk I talk to in Whitehall think the president has garbled some of the details of what the leaders discussed privately. For instance, I am told there was never a request to provide aircraft carriers in the Gulf, nor an offer to provide them. British sources also point out that aircraft carriers provide a runway where there otherwise wouldn't be one, but the UK has exactly that on land nearby - at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. Trump 'not happy' with UK response to Iran conflict Starmer speaks to Trump about importance of reopening Strait of Hormuz Wary allies show there's no quick fix to Trump's Iran crisis I am told there have been just three formal requests from Washington to the UK. The first was the use of airfields for the initial attacks, which was rejected. The second was the use of th...