US President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer celebrated the deepening of their nations’ “special relationship” on Thursday, announcing that a series of deals valued at 250 billion pounds have made their bonds “unbreakable.” At a business reception, the two leaders welcomed top US and UK business figures, praising their role in strengthening ties through investments in sectors ranging from technology to energy.
This was the second day of Trump’s historic second state visit to Britain. The US president had already described his trip as an “exquisite honor” after a day filled with pomp and ceremony, including a “fantastic” state banquet with King Charles at Windsor Castle. Seated together in a marquee on the grounds of Starmer’s Chequers country residence, they marked the announcement of a record 150 billion pound ($205 billion) package of US investment into Britain, part of a broader 250 billion pound package that officials say will benefit both countries.
Trump Hails ‘Unbreakable Bond’ with UK
“This is a great day for the special relationship,” Starmer said, thanking the business leaders, including Nvidia’s CEO Jensen Huang and GSK’s Emma Walmsley. “It’s a celebration of what has gone before, but more than that, a moment to deliver investments, jobs, and deals which will improve people’s lives now and light up the special relationship for years to come.”
Trump was equally enthusiastic. “The ties between our countries are priceless,” he said. “We’ve done some things that are financially great for both countries… I think it’s an unbreakable bond we have, regardless of what we’re doing today. I think it’s unbreakable.”
Starmer has positioned Britain as an attractive destination for US investment, particularly in its financial services, tech, and energy sectors, to attract capital, build infrastructure, and grow the economy. While he may have accepted that there would be no further reduction on steel tariffs, he was eager to promote the broader deals, including a new technology pact with companies from Microsoft to Nvidia and OpenAI, which have pledged 31 billion pounds ($42 billion), along with 100 billion pounds from Blackstone.
Press Conference Holds Potential Pitfalls
Earlier in the day, Starmer and his wife, Victoria, warmly greeted Trump at Chequers to the sound of bagpipes, a nod to the US president’s mother’s Scottish heritage. The meeting itself was not without risks. Later on Thursday, the two leaders were scheduled to hold a press conference, where journalists could question them about the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Starmer was recently forced to fire Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US after his close ties with Epstein were revealed. Trump’s relationship with the deceased financier has also come under public scrutiny. “For Starmer, he is having a difficult domestic time and he needs a positive international narrative and to bring Trump on board on key issues,” said Evie Aspinall, director of the British Foreign Policy Group think tank. She added that Trump would want to demonstrate the value of a close relationship with Starmer. “For both sides, they realize there is a lot to be gained.”
Starmer will also hope that Trump’s pride in attending the state banquet will prevent the US leader from raising more sensitive topics, such as Britain’s online safety laws and its stance on Israel. Speaking at Wednesday’s banquet, Trump had said Britain “laid the foundations of law, liberty, free speech, and individual rights” under its empire and “must continue to stand for the values and the people of the English-speaking world.” A few hours later, he celebrated the suspension of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel over comments about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, a move that aligns with Trump’s pressure on broadcasters to stop airing content he finds objectionable.
The Two to Discuss Ukraine, Gaza
Starmer will also aim to shift the focus to foreign policy, hoping to persuade the US leader to take stronger action against Russia for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Trump had pleased Europe by calling Russia “the aggressor” in the war last weekend, but he is also demanding that Europe cease all purchases of Russian oil before he agrees to impose heavier sanctions on Moscow.
Trump has also criticized the decision of some European countries to recognize a Palestinian state as “rewarding Hamas,” though he told reporters he did not mind Starmer “taking a position.” According to political analyst Aspinall, these “two geopolitical areas are likely to be the friction points in the conversations.” She concluded, “There will be some awkward moments in those conversations.”
