US President Donald Trump (left) speaks during a joint press conference with Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer following their meeting at Chequers, in Aylesbury, central England, on September 18, 2025. Photo: ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP.
US President Donald Trump criticized outgoing British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday after the Labour leader announced he would resign, saying he had “really hurt himself” over energy, immigration and his handling of relations with Washington.
“I think he’s a lovely man,” Trump told reporters at an Oval Office event, before accusing Starmer of mishandling Britain’s energy policy by failing to exploit North Sea oil and allowing “windmills all over the place.”
“The UK buys much of its energy. You know where? Norway. You know where they get their oil? The North Sea,” Trump said. “The UK has a much better portion of the North Sea — they don’t want to do it for environmental purposes.”
Trump, who had predicted Starmer’s departure in a Truth Social post, said the British leader was “sort of a friend of mine” but had not been supportive enough of the United States on NATO and the Iran war.
