Donald Trump has criticized Sir Keir Starmer, calling him ‘unhelpful’ for not supporting Trump’s military actions against Iran. The former US President also remarked that the Special Relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom is no longer what it once was.

Expressing his disappointment, Trump described the current state of US-UK relations as ‘very sad’ compared to the past. He emphasized a notable change in the dynamic between the two nations.

Trump speculated that the Prime Minister’s decision might be influenced by a desire to appeal to Muslim voters, suggesting a political motive behind the lack of support.

Despite his criticisms, Trump stated his affection for the UK and its people but noted that the country is ‘not such a recognizable place’ anymore, indicating his perception of significant changes.

He advised the Prime Minister to ‘stop people from coming in from foreign lands who hate you,’ implying a need for stricter immigration controls.

Trump’s comments come amid accusations that the Prime Minister jeopardized the Special Relationship by refusing to permit US bombers to launch attacks on Iran from British military bases.

The Pentagon has also vented its fury at Mr Starmer for his ‘pearl-clutching’ over the US attacks that wiped out Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The Prime Minister said yesterday that he was right, telling the Commons: ‘President Trump has expressed his disagreement with our decision not to get involved in the initial strikes, but it is my duty to judge what is in Britain’s national interest. That is what I have done, and I stand by it’.

Hitting back today Mr Trump said:  ‘He has not been helpful. I never thought I’d see that. I never thought I’d see that from the UK. We love the UK.

‘It’s very sad to see that the relationship is obviously not what it was.’ 

Asked about claims the Labour leader’s decisions on Iran is because of pandering to Muslim voters, the President replied: ‘It could be’.

Donald Trump has today suggested that Sir Keir Starmer’s decision not to back is war with Iran is because he is pandering to Muslim voters and being swayed by ‘foreigners that hate you’.

The Pentagon vented its fury at Keir Starmer on Monday for his ‘pearl-clutching’ over the US attacks on Iran

Speaking to The Sun he said that Mr Starmer ‘has got his own difficulties’ in the UK and wished him luck.

‘The people of the UK, who I have a great relationship with, who I love, are sorry to hear it also… I don’t get it. But you know what? I just… I wish him a lot of luck’, he said.

Telling the PM what he needed to do he added: ‘Two very simple things.

‘Open up the North Sea. Immediately. Your energy prices are through the roof.

‘And stop people from coming in from foreign lands who hate you.

‘Open up the North Sea and stop people from pouring into his country from faraway lands.’

He said of the UK generally, Mr Trump said: ‘It’s also not such a recognisable country. I mean, you look at what happened over the last period of time and it’s very different.

‘London is a very different place, with a terrible Mayor. You have a terrible Mayor there, some terrible people.

‘But it’s a very different place.’

Sir Keir Starmer has seriously aggravated the White House by suggesting that the attack, which killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, was illegal and set to unravel.

In an outspoken intervention, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth praised Israel for its central role in the offensive – but savaged the legalistic approach taken by Britain and other European allies.

‘Israel has clear missions for which we are grateful,’ he said. ‘Capable partners are good partners. Unlike so many of our traditional partners who wring their hands and clutch their pearls, humming and hawing about the use of force.’

Sir Keir made a partial U-turn on Sunday after Iran lashed out at civilian targets in Gulf states and RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, saying US jets would be able to fly from British bases for the ‘limited’ objective of destroying Iranian missile launchers and stockpiles.

He told MPs on Monday that an estimated 300,000 British nationals in the Gulf region were ‘at risk’ as Tehran targeted hotels and airports. But he ruled out going further, saying he would not participate in US-led attempts to bring about ‘regime change from the skies’.

Donald Trump said the PM took ‘far too long’ to lift the ban on US forces flying from RAF Fairford, in Gloucestershire, and Diego Garcia, in the Chagos Islands.

An airstrike on an Iranian police centre also damaged residential buildings around it in Niloofar square in central Tehran on Sunday 

The US President said he was ‘very disappointed in Keir’ over his attempts to hand sovereignty of the strategically vital Diego Garcia to Mauritius.

Sir Keir acknowledged that Mr Trump had ‘expressed his disagreement’, but insisted it was in Britain’s national interest to abide strictly by international law.

He told MPs repeatedly that any military action had to have a ‘lawful basis’ and a ‘viable thought-through plan’ – and suggested the US had neither. Downing Street said the PM’s commitment to upholding international law was ‘iron-clad’.

Kemi Badenoch suggested that the PM was distancing himself from US actions on Iran to avoid further alienating Muslim voters and so-called ‘progressives’ who deserted Labour for the Greens in last week’s by-election. She accused Sir Keir of trying to placate voters ‘whose political loyalties are swayed by conflicts in the Middle East, not the British national interest’.

‘It isn’t international law or principle,’ she said. ‘It’s pure, partisan, political calculations from a party that has surrendered its right to govern our country.’

She added: ‘Why is it that under this Prime Minister, international law always seems to be at odds with our national interest?’ The Tory leader said British people ‘will be wondering why our country’s response has been so weak’.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said the PM’s dithering was ‘pathetic’, adding: ‘Our Prime Minister is not a leader, he’s a follower, and he looks weak in the eyes of everybody.’

The PM marched against the Iraq War in 2003 and declared it illegal. He told MPs on Monday he was determined to prevent Britain being dragged into another legally questionable conflict in the Gulf.

‘We all remember the mistakes of Iraq, and we have learned those lessons,’ he said.

‘Any UK actions must always have a lawful basis and a viable, thought-through plan.

‘President Trump has expressed his disagreement with our decision not to join the initial strikes,’ he said. ‘But it is my duty to judge what is in Britain’s national interest, and that is the judgment I made. I stand by it.’

Former Tory security minister Tom Tugendhat, who served in the Iraq war, said there was ‘zero comparison’ with the current situation as there are no plans for a UK ground invasion, although President Trump later said he was prepared to put ‘boots on the ground’.

A legal opinion drawn up the PM’s controversial Attorney-General Lord Hermer ruled that the assault on Iran could not be deemed self-defence despite the regime’s long history of attacks on the West, including targets in the UK.