US President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday signed a major tech deal, with Trump hailing the “unbreakable bond” between the United States and Britain. The agreement was finalized on the second day of the president’s state visit, which has been marked by grand ceremonies.
A day after being treated to a day of royal pageantry by King Charles III at Windsor Castle, Trump flew to Starmer’s Chequers country residence for talks on complex issues, including the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza.
Britain’s efforts to court the unpredictable Trump on his second state visit appeared to have paid off. He and Starmer signed a partnership to boost ties in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and nuclear energy.
During the signing ceremony, which was attended by several US tech CEOs, Labour leader Starmer commented that he and the Republican president were “leaders who genuinely like each other.” He added, “It is the biggest investment package of its kind in British history by a country mile.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (R) and US President Donald Trump (L) shake hands at a business event at Chequers, in Aylesbury, central England, on September 18, 2025, during the second day of the US President’s second State Visit. (AFP)
Trump described the deal as “very big,” and regarding US relations with key NATO ally Britain, he said, “it’s an unbreakable bond we have regardless of what we’re doing today.”
This deal follows earlier pledges of £150 billion ($205 billion) in investment into the UK from US giants including Microsoft, Google, and Blackstone.
Earlier, Trump bid farewell to King Charles at Windsor, calling him a “great gentleman and a great king” after a lavish state banquet, carriage ride, and military flypast.
Epstein Scandal Looms
Trump then flew on Marine One to Chequers, where Starmer and his wife, Victoria, greeted him to the sound of bagpipes before heading into the 16th-century manor house to begin their meeting.
The British premier has positioned himself as a bridge between Trump and European allies, particularly on the war in Ukraine, in an effort to secure more commitments for Kyiv from the US leader.
Appealing to Trump’s admiration for British wartime leader Winston Churchill, Starmer led the US president on a tour of Churchill artifacts at Chequers before their bilateral meeting.
Union and Stars and Stripes flags fly on The Mall on September 18, 2025, during US President Donald Trump’s second State Visit. Following royal hospitality and pageantry, the unprecedented visit takes a serious turn on Thursday with wide-ranging talks hosted by Prime Minister Keir Starmer. (AFP)
Starmer’s warm tone with the 79-year-old Trump has seemingly resulted in some leniency in the president’s tariff war. Starmer said Thursday that the trade deal signed by the two countries in May was the first for the US and also “the best.”
However, the talks could face obstacles at the joint press conference scheduled at Chequers. The scandal surrounding the late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein is a persistent issue for both leaders.
Starmer is facing domestic political trouble after firing his UK ambassador to Washington, Peter Mandelson, following a controversy over the diplomat’s connections to the disgraced financier Epstein.
Epstein has also been a source of recent problems for Trump, with new revelations emerging about their relationship in the 1990s and early 2000s.
There are also differences on the situation in Gaza, with Britain reportedly preparing to announce its recognition of a Palestinian state, a move that the United States has opposed.
‘Highest Honors’
Despite potential challenges, Wednesday was all smiles for Trump, as he was lavished with the full pomp and ceremony of the British state for the second time, following his first visit in 2019.
“This is truly one of the highest honors of my life,” Trump said at the state banquet.
The king, in turn, praised Trump’s peace efforts and support for Ukraine, after a day that included gun salutes, soldiers on horseback, and bagpipes, all designed to appeal to the US president’s fascination with royalty.
However, King Charles also emphasized to Trump, who has rolled back environmental protections since returning to power, the obligations leaders have to “our children, grandchildren, and those who come after them.”
Melania Trump remained in Windsor on Thursday morning, where she met with scouts alongside Princess Catherine and viewed Queen Mary’s Doll’s House with Queen Camilla.
The US first lady’s husband was kept largely away from the British public, as an estimated 5,000 people marched through central London on Wednesday to protest his visit.
