UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer wished Donald Trump “warmest congratulations” late on Sunday ahead of Trump’s inauguration, hailing the “unshakeable foundations” of the two countries’ “historical alliance”.
“On behalf of His Majesty’s Government and the United Kingdom, I would like to send my warmest congratulations to President Donald Trump on his inauguration as the forty-seventh President of the United States,” Starmer said in a statement.
“We will continue to build upon the unshakeable foundations of our historic alliance as we tackle together the global challenges we face and take our partnership to the next level,” Starmer added.
Starmer has been at pains to insist the UK-US “special relationship” will flourish under a Trump presidency.
There have been concerns in Britain over possible trade wars, Labour ministers’ unflattering comments about Trump during his first term, and Starmer’s recent row with key Trump ally Elon Musk.
“With President Trump’s long-standing affection and historical ties to the United Kingdom, I know that depth of friendship will continue,” the Labour leader said in the statement.
