Donald Trump has taken to social media to ridicule UK Labour leader Keir Starmer, suggesting he’s too timid to engage with him directly, further straining the so-called “Special Relationship” between the two countries.
The former U.S. president shared a satirical clip from the British version of “Saturday Night Live” on his Truth Social platform earlier today.
The sketch, which premiered last night on Sky, portrays the British Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street, nervously avoiding a phone call from Trump regarding issues with Iran.
In the comedic scene, the actor portraying Sir Keir expresses anxiety to his deputy, David Lammy, asking, “What if Donald shouts at me?” When “Trump” picks up the phone, Starmer’s character quickly hangs up, rattled by the prospect of confrontation.
Starmer’s character laments, “I just hate conflict so much,” admitting his discomfort in handling such high-stakes diplomacy.
During the skit, a framed photo of Trump looms over Sir Keir’s workspace as he confides in Lammy, saying, “I just want to keep him happy, Lammy. You don’t understand him like I do. I can change him.”
The faux premier later adds: ‘I’ll say anything, I’ll do anything, except take a stand.’
Mr Trump has repeatedly vented fury at Sir Keir’s reluctance to take a bigger role in the US-Israeli war on Iran, branding him ‘disappointing’ and ‘no Churchill’.
Donald Trump spread a toe-curling clip from the British version of ‘Saturday Night Live’ on his Truth Social platform this afternoon
Mr Trump has repeatedly vented fury at Sir Keir’s reluctance to take a bigger role in the US-Israeli war on Iran, branding him ‘disappointing’ and ‘no Churchill’
He has also called Nato countries ‘cowards’ for not sending warships to the Strait of Hormuz.
Polls have suggested the British public is extremely wary about taking part in the US-Israeli attacks on Iran, which have caused carnage in oil and gas supplies and raised fears of a global recession.
An Opinium survey released this weekend found that Sir Keir’s personal ratings have improved by 11 points since the start of the strikes, albeit remaining at a dire low.
The UK has given US forces the green light to run ‘defensive’ operations from its military sites, such as Diego Garcia.
On Friday evening Sir Keir extended that to action aiming to reopen the crucial Strait of Hormuz – amid mounting panic over choked off oil supplies.
However, another clash could be looming, with government sources making clear the UK has not agreed to facilitate attacks on civilian infrastructure.
Posting on his Truth Social site last night, Mr Trump said: ‘If Iran doesn’t FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP’
Sir Keir (pictured in his study last week) has given US forces the green light to run ‘defensive’ operations from its military sites, such as Diego Garcia
The version of the SNL sketch posted by Mr Trump cuts off before a section where Sir Keir is shown insisting he cannot join America in starting ‘World War 3’.
That part includes the PM leaving Mr Trump a voice note saying: ‘Hi Donald. I’m afraid I can’t go to war with you.
‘But that doesn’t mean we can’t still be chums.’
Sir Keir gives a list of things the UK and US have done together in the past, including D-Day, but says he wants to ‘take a break’ like Rachel and Ross out of sitcom Friends.
The Sky Original show follows NBC’s late-night comedy show with 75-minute long episodes which feature a number of segments, including an opening monologue, topical sketches and a UK version of The Weekend Update.
The US version of Saturday Night Live has been running since 1975 and is responsible for launching the careers of the likes of Fey, Bill Murray and Eddie Murphy.
