Keir Starmer press convention LIVE – PM tells Trump he is ‘fallacious’ over tariff threats
Keir Starmer will hold an emergency Downing Street press conference today around 9.15am after Donald Trump’s threatened tariffs over his Greenland tantrum.
The erratic US President warned he will slap 10% tariffs on countries including the UK for opposing his desired takeover of the territory. He also threatened to hike the levies on NATO allies to 25% on June 1 if a deal to buy Greenland is not reached in time.
On Sunday evening No10 said the PM had told President Trump he was “wrong” over the threat of tariffs against NATO countries. Allies including the UK also warned over the weekend the White House actions risks a “dangerous downward spiral” in relations.
In a joint statement the countries threatened by Trump said they will “stand united and coordinated” in their response and in “full solidarity with the Kingdom of Denmark and the people of Greenland”.
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Keir Starmer tells Donald Trump he’s ‘wrong’ in phone call
Last night Keir Starmer held a call with Mr Trump for the first time since the US President threatened the UK and NATO allies with tariffs. No10 said the PM made clear hitting allies with the tariffs was “wrong”.
Mr Starmer also spoke with Mette Frederiksen, the PM of Denmark, the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, and NATO Secretary-General, Mark Rutte.
A Downing Street spokeswoman said: “The Prime Minister had a number of calls with leaders this afternoon. He spoke to Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen; President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. He then spoke to President Trump.
“In all his calls, the Prime Minister reiterated his position on Greenland. He said that security in the High North is a priority for all NATO allies in order to protect Euro-Atlantic interests. He also said that applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of NATO allies is wrong.”
Keir Starmer rips up plans to hold emergency press conference
Over the weekend Keir Starmer criticised the move as “completely wrong” in rare public criticism of the US President.
The Prime Minister had been planning a cost of living focused speech in the North West on Monday – but the intervention has been delayed. He is instead expected to address the international developments over the weekend in a press conference from Downing Street this morning. Mr Starmer will set out the UK’s approach to working with allies while making clear his aim to protect the security and living standards of the British public.
