Donald Trump interrupted UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer during a press conference, cutting him off with a firm “that’s enough” as Starmer attempted to address questions about Trump’s controversial remarks regarding Canada.
The exchange occurred after reporters asked Starmer about Trump’s earlier threats to annex Canada and make it the “51st state” of the United States.
Starmer dismissed the questions, accusing reporters of trying to create division between the two leaders, stating, “You mentioned Canada, you’re trying to find a divide between us that doesn’t exist. We’re the closest of nations and we had very good discussions today.”
However, Trump abruptly ended Starmer’s response, signaling his impatience with the line of questioning. The tension arose amid reports that Trump had floated the idea of taking over Canada to gain access to its critical minerals.
Trump has also threatened Canada with a 25% tariff on most of its exports to the U.S., excluding energy exports, which would face a lower 10% tariff. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has suggested that Trump’s interest in annexing Canada is driven by a desire to control the country’s valuable natural resources.
The press conference followed a meeting between Trump and Starmer in the Oval Office, where the two leaders discussed strengthening economic ties between the U.S. and the UK. Starmer emphasized their shared focus on advancing technology, particularly artificial intelligence, and announced plans to begin work on a new economic deal centered on advanced technology.
He highlighted the potential of AI to drive innovation, stating, “Artificial intelligence could cure cancer. That could be a moonshot for our age, and that’s how we’ll keep delivering for our people.”
Despite the diplomatic discussions, Trump’s interruption and his earlier comments about Canada underscored the ongoing tensions in U.S.-UK relations under his administration. The incident also highlighted the challenges Starmer faces in navigating his relationship with the unpredictable U.S. president.
