London: Donald Trump has suggested that UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer could deploy the military to strengthen border control and curb illegal migration. The US president made the remarks during a joint press conference at Chequers, concluding his second state visit to the UK.
Trump said that migration was a topic he had discussed with Starmer, drawing comparisons between challenges at the US southern border and the growing numbers of migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats. Trump told reporters that strong measures, including military involvement, might be necessary, adding that countries must take decisive steps to protect their borders.
Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has intensified deportations and deployed troops to assist with border security. He said that illegal immigration ‘destroys countries from within’ and urged Starmer to adopt a strong stance.
The UK prime minister confirmed that his government had been prioritising illegal migration and had secured migrant return agreements with France and other nations. Starmer pointed to the first return carried out under the one-in, one-out scheme with France, noting progress but cautioning there was ‘no silver bullet’ solution.
The leaders also used the platform to announce a new ‘tech prosperity deal’ between the UK and the US, focusing on investment in artificial intelligence, quantum, and other emerging technologies. Trump said the agreement would allow both nations to dominate globally in advanced sectors.
However, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said investment could have been much higher without what he called restrictive UK regulations, such as the digital services tax and the Online Safety Act.
During the state visit, Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were hosted by King Charles at Windsor Castle, attended a state banquet, and held political talks at Chequers. Following the engagements, they departed the UK from Stansted Airport.
The press conference also covered a wide range of issues, including Palestinian statehood, the war in Ukraine, free speech, and energy policy. Starmer reiterated plans to recognise Palestinian statehood at the upcoming UN General Assembly, a move opposed by Trump, who accused Hamas of using hostages as ‘bait’ in Gaza. Trump expressed disappointment in Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying he had ‘let me down’ by failing to engage in peace efforts.
On energy, Trump called for the UK to ‘open up the North Sea’ for oil and gas drilling, arguing that Britain faced high energy costs. He also spoke positively of Starmer, saying he ‘liked’ the prime minister, but suggested that the US was benefiting financially from current trade arrangements.
Despite their differences on certain policies, both leaders projected unity on tackling illegal migration and reinforced the UK-US ‘special relationship’ during the visit.
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