Trump and Starmer acknowledge divide over Palestinian statehood

From right: first lady Melania Trump, President Donald Trump, King Charles III, and Queen Camilla pose for a family photo as they arrive at the State Banquet for President Donald Trump’s visit at Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)

By SHASHANK BENGALI and RICHARD PÉREZ-PEÑA

President Donald Trump wrapped up his state visit to Britain on Thursday with a joint news conference with Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain, in which both men warmly praised the other while acknowledging a disagreement over Palestinian statehood.

The two leaders have formed an unlikely friendship, given their starkly different political backgrounds. Starmer, a former human rights lawyer, leads the center-left Labour Party, and his main political rival, right-wing populist Nigel Farage, is a longtime ally of Trump. Yet during the news conference, the rapport between Trump and Starmer was apparent, with the president sometimes turning to the prime minister to pat his shoulder, and Starmer carefully avoided answering questions in a way that could highlight their deep underlying political differences.

The prime minister had hoped to cajole Trump into a more aggressive approach toward President Vladimir Putin of Russia on the war in Ukraine, and he said that the two leaders had spent “the best part of an hour” speaking in private about world affairs on Thursday.

For Britain, this one-on-one time bending the president’s ear on the war in Ukraine and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza was a key priority for the state visit. But it was unclear whether the immense cost and ceremony of the visit would pay off on either front.

Trump said of Putin: “He has let me down” but did not directly address questions from reporters about what actions he might take to pressure the Russian president further, or to support Ukraine.

The prime minister insisted they were united on trying to find a resolution to Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip.

“We are working together to end the humanitarian catastrophe in the Middle East,” Starmer said.

When Trump was asked about recognition of Palestinian statehood by Britain and other allies, however, the president said, “I have a disagreement with the prime minister on that score.”

One specific outcome from the trip came in the form of a technology partnership agreement signed by Trump and Starmer on Thursday, which they said would help the United States and Britain lead the world on artificial intelligence and other high-tech innovations.

Here’s what else to know:

— Investments: In announcements tied to Trump’s visit, companies including Microsoft, OpenAI and Blackstone have pledged more than $200 billion in investment in Britain over the next decade, and British companies including the pharmaceuticals giant GSK have said they would invest in the United States. Though such pledges are common during high-profile visits, the British government will surely see them as a win at a time when it is struggling to show that it can increase economic growth.

— Jeffrey Epstein: Trump could not entirely avoid a topic he wishes would go away: His former association with the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who died in 2019. Starmer recently fired Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the United States, based on revelations about his relationship with Epstein. Asked if he felt any sympathy for Mandelson’s position, Trump said, “I don’t know him, actually,” though they met several times, including in the Oval Office.

— Nuclear energy: Though Trump and Starmer are far apart on most climate and energy policies, they seem to agree on nuclear energy, having struck a deal to build more nuclear plants in Britain. Starmer’s administration has promised to fast-track reviews of proposed new plants, while Trump has issued executive orders to speed up the approvals of nuclear reactors in the United States.

— Protests: Thousands of protesters poured into central London on Wednesday to demonstrate against Trump’s visit, a contrast to his red-carpet reception from royalty and political leaders during his carefully choreographed visit to Britain.

— First lady: Queen Camilla gave Melania Trump a tour on Thursday of Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House, a miniature palace that was given as a gift in 1924 to Queen Mary, the wife of King George V, as an example of fine British craftsmanship. Later, Melania Trump joined Catherine, Princess of Wales, at Frogmore Gardens for an event with Britain’s Scouts Association.