9 bombshells as Keir Starmer hits again at Trump in emergency press convention

Keir Starmer faced down Donald Trump’s tariff threats over Greenland at an emergency Downing Street press conference – here are the 9 key moments from a dramatic morning

Keir Starmer has said the crisis of Donald Trump threatening the UK with tariffs over Greenland is a “moment for the whole country to pull together”.

In an emergency address from Downing Street, the Prime Minister gave a defiant speech facing down the US President’s threats. He took questions from reporters where he was confronted over the US “bullying” the UK over the issue.

Mr Starmer insisted the US remains a “close ally” and warned British families the security relationship between the two countries is vital to every single person in the country. But he admitted the UK and the US have “differences of opinion” over Greenland but that any solutions must come through “calm discussion”, not a trade war.

It comes after he erratic US President on Saturday warned he will slap 10% tariffs on countries including the UK from February for opposing his desired takeover of the territory. In an incendiary move, 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.

The Mirror looks at the key moments from the press conference.

READ MORE: Keir Starmer press conference LIVE – PM hits out at Donald Trump ‘trade war’ threat

1. Trade war slapdown

Keir Starmer warned that a “trade war is in no one’s interest” amid Donald Trump’s threatened tariffs over his Greenland tantrum.

In his speech, the PM said: “The use of tariffs against allies is completely wrong. It is not the right way to resolve differences within an alliance. Nor is it helpful to frame efforts to strengthen Greenland security as a justification for economic pressure.

“Such measures hurt British workers, British businesses and the British economy. And that is why I’ve been so clear on this issue. A trade war is in no one’s interest, and my job is always to act in the UK’s national interest.”

2. Country must ‘pull together’

Keir Starmer described the threat of new tariffs as a “moment for the whole country to pull together”. The PM also welcomed support from Tory leader Kemi Badenoch over the situation.

Mr Starmer said: “A partnership does not mean abandoning principle. That is why it’s important to be clear about who we stand with, what we stand for, and where our interests lie. This is a moment for the whole country to pull together, so I warmly welcome the support we’ve had with regards to Greenland and the proposed tariffs from the Leader of the Opposition (Kemi Badenoch). I thank her for her support.

“At moments like this, there will always be people who reach for the performative, who think an angry social media post or grandstanding is a substitute for hard work. That’s an understandable instinct, but it’s not effective. It never has been.”

3. Starmer sets himself apart from EU on retaliatory tariffs

Mr Starmer set himself apart from the EU, who is considering slapping retaliatory tariffs on US goods. Reports suggest the EU’s top diplomats discussed reviving a plan to levy tariffs on €93billion of US products. The original plan was ditched last year after the EU and the US struck a trade deal in the summer.

Asked whether the UK would consider retaliatory tariffs, the PM said: “A tariff war isn’t in anybody’s interests. And therefore what I want to do is to avoid a tariff war because it will be businesses, workers and families across the country, that will be hit by a trade war.

“Therefore, I will, do as I’ve set out, which is to engage, with our European allies, with President Trump.”

4. PM confronted over US ‘bullying’ UK

The PM was confronted by a journalist over the US “bullying” the UK with threats of tariffs.

Sky News’s Beth Rigby told Mr Starmer: “Prime Minister, many people, watching this at home would have been shocked and angry over the weekend that our so-called closest ally is threatening us if we try to stop him illegally annexing Greenland. Is this the most serious crisis in the transatlantic relationship in decades? And how can the US remain our closest ally when it’s bullying us like this?”

Mr Starmer admitted: “This has been very badly received across the United Kingdom. We’re allies of the United States and we work closely with them. And therefore, I’m not surprised by the reaction has been across the United Kingdom, and it is a very serious situation.

“Our job is to ensure that we find a way forward, consistent with our principles and values and consistent with our national interest.”

5. PM dismisses demands to cancel King’s state visit

Some MPs – including the Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey – have called on the government to scrap to King’s upcoming state visit to the US if Mr Trump presses ahead with his tariff threats.

Sir Ed posted on X: “The PM must tell Trump in no uncertain terms: if he goes ahead with these outrageous tariffs and keeps bullying Greenland, there’ll be no state visit to the US in April. The UK must not be a doormat for an extortionist, or reward Trump’s behaviour with the pageantry he craves.”

Asked whether the King should go to the US in April, Mr Starmer told the press conference: “In relation to, the King and other issues, as I said in my speech, I’m focused on the pragmatic response here, not the suggestion of others. And my focus is on what’s in the national interest for our country, what is going to best protect workers, families, businesses and I believe that’s the approach I’ve set out.”

6. International stage is vital to cost of living

In a thinly veiled swipe at his critics, Mr Starmer said not being active on the international stage would be a “dereliction of duty” to the cost of living crisis.

He said: “Some people appear to make the argument that what happens internationally is irrelevant to the cost of living issues that are faced across this country. I’m well aware that, for all the volatility in the world and we’ve seen plenty of that in the first few weeks of this year, the issue that is of central concern to families and communities across the country is the cost of living, wherever you go in the country and ask people what their number one concern is, they will say it’s the cost of living, and therefore we have to address it.

“We address it in a number of ways. Firstly, by taking the measures to stabilise the economy so that inflation coming down, interest rates coming down, and protecting family budgets is crucial to that. By being active where markets fail, stepping in on energy bills, rail fares, prescription charges, etc. But also by working relentlessly on matters that are international, because the impact of what’s happening internationally on what’s happening domestically is obvious.

“It’s real. It’s probably more direct now than it’s been any time most of us can remember. And therefore, it would be a dereliction of duty on the cost of living not to be engaged on the international stage.”

7. US and UK have ‘differences’ over Greenland

Keir Starmer admitted the UK and the US have “differences of opinion” on dealing with Greenland .

In his speech, the PM said : “Mature alliances are not about pretending differences don’t exist. They are about addressing them directly, respectfully and with a focus on results. On Greenland, the right way to approach an issue of this seriousness is through calm discussion between allies.” Mr Starmer reiterated his position “any decision about the future status of Greenland belongs to the people of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark alone”, adding: “That right is fundamental and we support it.”

He later said that having a good relationship with the US “doesn’t mean, as I said a moment ago, that we pretend we don’t have differences. We do have differences. And I’ve set out some of those differences here this morning in relation to Greenland: Differences of opinion in terms of who should decide the future of Greenland. I’m very clear in my position and differences of opinion on, the use of tariffs in a situation like this.”

8. PM thinks Trump won’t use military force

Keir Starmer has indicated he does not believe Donald Trump is prepared to use military force to take over Greenland.

Asked if he genuinely believed the US President was considering military action, he told reporters: “I don’t, actually. I think that this can be resolved and should be resolved through calm discussion, but with the application of the principles and values that I’ve set out in terms of who decides the future of Greenland, and making clear that the use of tariffs in this way is completely wrong.”

9. US remains ‘close ally’

Keir Starmer said the US “remains a close ally” despite Donald Trump threatening new tariffs over Greenland.

The PM warned the close security relationship between the US and the UK is the “closest relationship” of any two countries in the world – and warned it is “vital” to every single person in the UK.

Mr Starmer dismissed a question asking whether he’d been “too soft” with Mr Trump, saying: “I don’t agree with that, assessment because, taking the approach we’ve taken has yielded hundreds of billions of pounds of inward investment into the United Kingdom. That’s hugely important for our economy and for jobs and businesses.

“We are involved on a daily basis when it comes to, security, defence and intelligence sharing – daily, 24/7… The interaction on intelligence between the US and the UK, it’s the closest relationship of any two countries in the world. And that keeps us safe, in ways I can’t explain to you. But I can say very clearly, it keeps us safe and is vital to every single person who lives in this country.”