Kemi Badenoch has called Donald Trump’s repeated criticisms of Keir Starmer “childish”, as the Conservative leader continued her recent moves to distance herself from the US president and his military action against Iran.
Speaking shortly before Trump yet again singled out Starmer, saying the prime minister had not been sufficiently supportive of the US war, Badenoch used a social media video to describe Trump’s actions as counterproductive.
Describing herself as “Keir Starmer’s biggest critic”, Badenoch went on: “But the words coming from the White House are completely wrong. I think it’s actually quite childish. There is a lot that can be said behind closed doors.
“We have got [Ukraine’s] President Zelenskyy in our country today. The western alliance having an argument with itself, I think, sends the wrong signal to our opponents, in Iran or in Russia.
“We need to be strengthening between the UK and the US, irrespective of who is president and who is prime minister. But I think those words coming from the White House were childish.”
Such an open rebuke for Trump is a notable change of stance for Badenoch, who has previously sought to link her style of leadership to his, praising the president for, she said, having the bravery to take on the liberal elite.
When the US and Israel first attacked Iran, Badenoch criticised Starmer for not allowing the US to use UK bases, saying she stood “with our allies in the US and Israel as they take on the threat of the Islamic Republic of Iran and its vile regime”.
However, a week ago Badenoch appeared to change her stance, denying that she had called for the UK to join in the war.
Her evolving view is likely to be shaped in part by polling that has repeatedly shown the attack on Iran is largely unpopular with British voters, who do not want the UK to become more involved.
Badenoch’s remarks followed overnight comments from Trump, who criticised Starmer as being overreliant on advisers in not immediately committing to sending a minesweeper to help reopen the strait of Hormuz.
Speaking at the White House on Tuesday as he hosted the Irish taoiseach, Micheál Martin, Trump again condemned Starmer, with whom he had previously enjoyed a relatively warm relationship. “Well, he hasn’t been supportive, and I think it’s a big mistake,” Trump said of the UK stance on Iran, indicating that it showed a lack of gratitude given US efforts on trade with Britain.
Trump said Starmer had told him the UK “was willing to send two aircraft carriers” to the Middle East, but only once the conflict was over, adding: “And I said: ‘No, no, we want things sent before the war, not after the war is won’. So, yeah, I’m disappointed with Keir. I like him, I think he’s a nice man, but I’m disappointed.”
Trump then repeated his view that “unfortunately Keir is no Winston Churchill”.
UK government sources disputed the idea that the US had asked for aircraft carriers, and said the situation in the strait of Hormuz was too volatile to send any vessels now.
