Trump ‘did not wish to hear’ to Starmer’s authorized excuses on Iran in icy name – as PM ‘dangled King’s state go to’ in bid to ease tensions

Donald Trump dismissed Keir Starmer‘s justifications for staying out of Iran strikes in an apparently frosty call.

The US president is said to have given short shrift to the PM’s arguments that the action was against international law.

Sir Keir’s attempts to switch the topic to the King’s impending state visit also seem to have had limited impact, as the pair had their first conversation since the military campaign was launched.

Details have been leaking out of the chat on Sunday amid concerns about long-term damage to the Special Relationship.

Sir Keir initially refused to allow the use of UK bases for strikes, but later shifted position to permit ‘defensive’ operations to stop Iranian reprisals.  

Mr Trump has sniped that Sir Keir ‘is not Winston Churchill’ and refused to deny calling him a ‘loser’ in private.

Donald Trump is said to have dismissed Keir Starmer’s justifications for staying out of Iran strikes in a frosty call

Sir Keir’s attempts to switch the topic to the King’s impending state visit also seem to have had limited impact during his conversation with the US President

At the weekend he launched another brutal dig by saying: ‘We don’t need people that join wars after we’ve already won!’

For his part, Sir Keir has accused the US of having no strategic plan underpinning the attacks, and acting illegally.    

Government officials told the i newspaper that the call between Sir Keir and Mr Trump was ‘not rosy’.

Downing Street has insisted the discussions between the leaders were ‘constructive’. 

Asked about the call yesterday, Sir Keir said the Special Relationship continued at an operational level.

‘Decisions about what’s in Britain’s best interests are decisions for the Prime Minister of Britain,’ he added pointedly. 

Government sources have tried to play down speculation that the King’s mooted state visit to America next month might be ditched. 

Mr Trump is known to be an admirer of the Royal Family, and deploying the monarch has been seen as a key means for Sir Keir to woo the president.  

However, YouGov polling has suggested Brits would like to see the trip axed by a margin of 46 per cent to 36 per cent.

King Charles and Queen Camilla are expected to fly to Washington DC at the end of April for a three-day visit to coincide with America’s 250th anniversary celebrations.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey is among those demanding that Sir Keir advise the King that his proposed state visit be called off.

He said a ‘huge diplomatic coup’ should not be given to someone ‘who repeatedly insults and damages our country’.

Government sources have tried to play down speculation that the King’s mooted state visit to America next month might be ditched

Asked yesterday if the King’s trip would go ahead, the PM’s official spokesman said: ‘No state visit has been confirmed yet.’

Speaking in the White House last week, Mr Trump declared that he was ‘not happy’ with Sir Keir and accused him of being ‘very, very uncooperative’ over Iran.

The US President hit out at Sir Keir’s initial decision to block the US from using British bases – including Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean – to launch attacks on Tehran.

In a reference to Britain’s war-time PM, a bust of whom sits in the Oval Office, Mr Trump added of Sir Keir: ‘This is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with.’