See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy JAMES TAPSFIELD, UK POLITICAL EDITOR and SAM MERRIMAN, POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT Published: 08:39 BST, 16 June 2026 | Updated: 20:19 BST, 16 June 2026
Keir Starmer insisted he has not been snubbed by Donald Trump today at what could be his last international summit as PM.The embattled PM said he was 'talking constantly' with the US President despite the leaders not having a one-on-one meeting at the G7 gathering in the French Alps.He also denied that the US President had confronted him about the UK's proposed social media ban for under-16s or defence spending shambles. The premier is walking a diplomatic tightrope in Evian-les-Bains, with a host of potential Transatlantic flashpoints.The wars in Ukraine and Iran are also dominating the agenda, after Mr Trump's outline peace deal with Tehran suggested there will be tolls to use the crucial Strait of Hormuz. Sir Keir sat next to Mr Trump at dinner with fellow leaders last night. Unusually the PM does not appear to have a bilateral meeting planned with the US President.He has, however, held separate one-on-one meetings with both EU commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Parliament President Antonio Costa. Asked if he had been snubbed by Mr Trump, Sir Keir said: 'Honestly, I mean, we've just spent two hours last night sat next to each other, chatting to each other.'I spoke to him on the phone on Saturday for quite some time, one to one, as we often do.'I've been sat next to him and discussing things in the margin with him this morning, and we're about to go into another session in five minutes, where I'll be sitting next to him again.'So we are talking pretty constantly throughout this and it's been very productive, very good conversations.'At home allies of Andy Burnham are plotting an immediate bid to oust him if the Greater Manchester mayor wins the Makerfield by-election on Thursday.In a sign Sir Keir might know the event is his swansong on the world stage, he has been accompanied by wife Victoria. Keir Starmer sat next to Donald Trump at a G7 dinner last night - but does not have a one-on-one meeting planned The US President has branded Sir Keir 'no Churchill' - and called on NATO countries to increase defence spending In a sign Sir Keir might know the event is his swansong, he has been accompanied by wife Victoria (second left)Sir Keir and Mr Trump have not met face to face since they fell out over the PM's refusal to let the US use British military bases to carry out strikes on Iran, and his decision not to send aircraft carriers to the Middle East.Relations were further strained recently after an intervention from vice president JD Vance prompted No 10 to criticise those seeking to 'interfere in our democracy'.Sir Keir was asked if Mr Trump had raised concerns about social media or defence spending during the G7, and whether he was worried these plans could strain relations with the US.He said: 'No, and no, and no. I sat next to Donald Trump for two hours last night at dinner, which was just the G7 leaders.'There were no listening rooms, there were no staff, no advisers. It was literally an opportunity for all of us to have a very honest and frank conversation.'The US president had a bilateral with Mr Macron last night and is holding one-on-ones with Middle East leaders at the summit. Sir Keir will try to keep the focus on Ukraine this morning, announcing more measures targeting Russia's 'shadow fleet' and the finance networks the country uses to circumvent western sanctions.British troops seized an illicit oil tanker in the Channel for the first time at the weekend.However, Mr Trump's long-standing demands for Nato countries to ramp up military spending could feature at the summit. Wrangling is continuing over the Defence Investment Plan (Dip), which sparked the resignation of John Healey last week accusing the PM and Rachel Reeves of failing to keep the country safe.Sir Keir appears to be standing by the same £13.5billion settlement - only set to boost spending from 2.6 per cent of GDP to 2.68 per cent by 2030 - in a move that threatens to further strain relations with Mr Trump.Sir Keir is expected to have bilateral meetings with world leaders including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Indian PM Narendra Modi today. The G7 leaders began their talks in France last night
