President Trump appeared to disclose publicly that Keir Starmer is preparing to step down before the United Kingdom’s prime minister had made any formal announcement about leaving 10 Downing Street.
Trump, 80, who has sparred with the 63-year-old Starmer over Iran and other contentious issues, criticized the Labour leader’s record before offering him a brief message of goodwill.
“Keir Starmer will resign as Prime Minister of The United Kingdom,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “He failed badly on two very important subjects- IMMIGRATION AND ENERGY (OPEN NORTH SEA OIL!).”
“I wish him well!”
Several reports have said Starmer could resign as prime minister as early as Monday, as his approval ratings continue to slide and confidence in his leadership erodes within the Labour Party. Some Labour MPs are reportedly seeking to clear a path for Andy Burnham to take over as party leader.
Starmer has not yet publicly confirmed that he plans to resign. Still, one of his key cabinet allies, Business Secretary Peter Kyle, declined to rule out the possibility when asked whether the prime minister could step aside.
Starmer had sought to build a working relationship with Trump despite their political differences, aiming to preserve Britain’s longstanding “special relationship” with the United States. His government faced challenges during Trump’s tariff push, but ultimately secured the first major trade agreement of the president’s second term.
Tensions between the two leaders deepened during the conflict with Iran, particularly after Starmer repeatedly resisted pressure from Trump to join military action. Starmer also initially blocked the United States from using key bases for attacks on Iran, though he later changed course.
King Charles III visited the US in April alongside Queen Camilla and delivered an address to a joint session of Congress to help ease any tension with the Trump administration.
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“I know we’re mostly inured to Donald Trump’s disregard for institutional norms and proprieties, but pre-announcing the resignation of the prime minister of America’s supposedly most important ally is pretty extreme, even by his standards,” British journalist Robert Peston wrote on X in response to Trump’s post.
“UK ministers are genuinely and understandably shocked.”
Peston claims that he was told by a UK cabinet official that Starmer “has genuinely not made a decision to quit, or at least he hasn’t yet.”
The UK has had four different prime ministers since 2022 as it grapples with an economic malaise and political discontent. Starmer had led the Labour Party’s return to power in 2024 for the first time since 2010. But since then, his popularity has tanked.
Some polls have shown Starmer’s favorability below 20%.
Burnham is generally seen as more left-leaning than Starmer and as one of the Labour Party’s most talented communicators at the moment. He has espoused a somewhat populist economic message, though critics argue his rhetoric is vague and doesn’t address some of the difficult structural problems plaguing the United Kingdom.
Regardless, Burnham is a fresh face for the Labour Party at a time when the Tories are hoping to capitalize on their political woes.
But Starmer has yet to confirm his forthcoming resignation publicly.
