'One Of Our Few Disagreements': Trump Admits Rare Rift With UK PM On Palestine

Last Updated:September 18, 2025, 23:31 IST

Starmer is reportedly set to formally announce Britain’s recognition of a Palestinian state this weekend, shortly after Trump’s visit concludes

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US President Donald Trump attend a joint press conference following their meeting at Chequers. (AFP photo)

US President Donald Trump on Thursday said he disagreed with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s plan for Britain to recognise a Palestinian state.

The comment came during a joint press conference at Chequers, the UK prime minister’s country residence, on the second full day of Trump’s state visit to the UK.

“I have a disagreement with the prime minister on that score, one of our few disagreements, actually," Trump said, referring to Starmer’s plan to recognise Palestinian statehood.

Starmer is reportedly set to formally announce Britain’s recognition of a Palestinian state this weekend, shortly after Trump’s visit concludes.

In July, Starmer had announced that the UK would take steps to recognise Palestinian statehood at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in New York, if Israel did not meet certain conditions aimed at improving the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

At the joint press conference, when asked about the timing of the announcement, Starmer said it was unrelated to Trump’s visit.

“I made my position clear at the end of July as to the timing, which has got nothing to do with this state visit," he said.

“I’ve discussed it with the president, as you would expect, amongst two leaders who respect each other and like each other and want to bring about a better solution in the best way that we can," the British prime minister added.

Meanwhile, the two leaders agreed on the urgent need for peace and a clear roadmap for the region. “We absolutely agree on the need for peace and a road map, because the situation in Gaza is intolerable," Starmer said.

Trump expressed his desire for the war to end and for hostages taken by Palestinian militants to be released. He described the conflict as “complex" but avoided directly stating whether he would press Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to stop the bombing in Gaza.

Starmer condemned the violence in Gaza and emphasised the importance of delivering aid quickly to the region. He also said any recognition of Palestinian statehood would be part of a wider peace plan, which must exclude Hamas from any future governance due to its role in the October 7 attacks on Israel.

The United States continues to strongly oppose countries recognising a Palestinian state, even as other Western nations like France and Canada prepare to do so at the United Nations next week.

Since the October 2023 Hamas attack, which resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and the taking of 251 hostages, the conflict has escalated further. Israeli retaliatory strikes have killed at least 65,000 people, again mostly civilians, according to figures the United Nations considers reliable.

(With inputs from agencies)

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News world 'One Of Our Few Disagreements': Trump Admits Rare Rift With UK PM On Palestine

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