President Donald Trump has issued a harsh rebuke of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, declaring, “this is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with,” as tensions between Washington and London hit a new low amid the Iran crisis.
Speaking from the Oval Office on March 3, Trump offered a scathing evaluation of the British leader while seated beside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, with a bust of Britain’s wartime prime minister behind him. The president escalated his criticism over the UK’s initial refusal to let American forces use British military bases for strikes against Iran.
Trump openly voiced irritation over the delays caused by Britain’s decision, noting it took days to secure alternative arrangements for U.S. operations. He referenced the Chagos Islands, accusing the UK of being “very, very uncooperative with that stupid island” and calling the matter “a shame.”
The dispute began after the UK initially blocked the U.S. from accessing British bases—most notably the strategic facility at Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands—to carry out strikes on Iran over the weekend. Starmer only reversed the decision after Iran retaliated with attacks across the Middle East, including a drone strike on RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus that damaged a runway early on March 2.
Trump broadened his attacks to include Starmer’s controversial agreement to transfer the Chagos Islands to Mauritius under a 99-year lease deal. Signed in May 2025, the arrangement permits the UK and U.S. to continue operating Diego Garcia while handing sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius.
The president’s remarks amount to an unprecedented public strain on the so‑called “special relationship” between the two countries. Trump suggested that other European partners were far more cooperative during the Iran operations than Britain.
Merz, seated with Trump during the Oval Office comments, later told journalists he had “addressed both issues very clearly in a personal conversation,” preferring not to debate disputes openly. Trump praised NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte for his support and announced he was cutting off all trade with Spain after Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez refused U.S. access to jointly operated bases for Iran operations.
The diplomatic fallout has pushed Downing Street into full damage control. Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Darren Jones defended the government’s stance, arguing that the initial U.S. and Israeli strikes did not meet the Prime Minister’s threshold for British participation.
Starmer countered Trump’s criticism in Parliament, insisting he acted in Britain’s national interest. He emphasized his government’s opposition to certain military actions, saying his administration “does not believe in regime change from the skies.”
The UK later deployed the air-defense destroyer HMS Dragon and two Wildcat helicopters equipped for counter‑drone operations to the Cyprus region to help bolster defenses at RAF Akrotiri following the Iranian drone strike. Britain also allowed the use of its bases for defensive measures after Iran launched waves of missiles and drones across the Middle East.
The White House is especially alarmed about the potential loss of Diego Garcia, a vital Indian Ocean airbase that could have provided refueling support for B2 bombers during operations against Iran. Although Trump had previously approved the UK’s agreement with Mauritius, he has since reversed his position, calling it an “act of great stupidity.”
Despite the very public dispute, the Prime Minister’s spokesman attempted to minimize the conflict, stressing the long history of cooperation. When asked about the state of the special relationship, the spokesman insisted Britain and America remain staunch allies.
Trump had earlier told The Sun that the special relationship was “not what it used to be” and accused Starmer of having “not been helpful.” He also criticized Britain’s energy and immigration policies, referencing his Scottish‑born mother Mary Anne MacLeod.
The escalating row marks one of the most significant diplomatic breakdowns between Washington and London in recent times, with neither leader appearing inclined to retreat. The crisis has also drawn complaints from Britain’s Middle Eastern partners, including Cyprus and several Gulf nations, who argue London has failed to adequately shield the region from Iranian missile attacks.
As Iran continues its regional assaults and the U.S. looks for alternative bases—including RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire—the standoff between Trump and Starmer shows no immediate sign of easing. Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan have both commented on the worsening security crisis, increasing pressure on the British government to clarify its stance.
