Return to Transcripts main page
Connect the World
Trump and Starmer Tout U.S.-U.K. "Tech Prosperity Deal"; Trump- Starmer News Conference; Aired 10-11a ET
Aired September 18, 2025 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[09:59:15]
(MUSIC PLAYING)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): This is CNN breaking news.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST (voice-over): Welcome to the second hour of the show. I'm Becky Anderson and we are standing by for a news conference from
U.S. president Donald Trump and the U.K. prime minister, Keir Starmer, as the president wraps up his historic second state visit.
We're told they're running about 40 minutes late at this point. So as soon as we see the two men there on the stage or at those podiums, we will get
you to that.
The pair, heavily focused on business ties today; that hasn't stopped Mr. Starmer from keeping the showmanship going. We saw skydivers, the Red
Devils flying the American and British flags from the sky there.
It's pretty impressive stuff, isn't it?
[10:00:00]
As the leaders watched from the steps of Chequers, we also heard from the - - from both of them briefly a short time ago, touting what they are hailing as the tech prosperity deal.
And it does look to be quite significant. Top U.S. firms, led by Microsoft, pledging $42 billion in U.K. investment. Let's get you to our panel that we
got lined up to discuss all of this.
Philip Reeker is the former U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom under the Biden administration. He's joining us from Southern England.
Our senior political reporting team, Stephen Collinson is in Washington and White House reporter Alayna Treene is standing by in Windsor.
And Alayna, let's start with you and that was where the Trumps were before they moved on to Buckinghamshire, the neighboring county in the U.K. The
U.S. and U.K. have agreed a $42 billion tech pact.
That's a significant number. It's not that hundreds of billions that we heard touted around when you and I were in the Gulf on the Trump trip. But
this is significant. Tell us more about this.
ALAYNA TREENE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is. And you could hear president Donald Trump saying that this will help them become leaders in the growing
AI space. He actually was making a little bit of a joke to some of the CEOs in the room, saying that they were the leaders of that.
But look, it is a significant investment. Blackstone, of course, the U.S. firm, is really the one funding most of the investment on that.
But this is kind of what a big part of the negotiations today were going to be about, this technology deal and further trying to solidify the
relationship between the United Kingdom and the U.S. by having some of these investments.
And broader, I will say we know that there are some other investments that other British companies are making in the United States. That's really been
a constant kind of theme.
And you mentioned our -- the trip to the Middle East. I mean, every single trip that the president has gone on abroad, he wants to walk away with
economic investments into the United States. That is a big part of a lot of these trips.
But I think this deal, of course, not just a major deal for the United States, more so even for the United Kingdom.
And I think what was also very notable to me, Becky, is some of the words that we heard president Donald Trump use in speaking with Keir Starmer,
saying that the bond between the two countries is unbreakable.
Saying that really there's no other relationship like the one that the United States shares with Great Britain. All things, of course, I think,
that the British want to hear. These talks today are coming at a time of great uncertainty, of course.
When it comes to tariffs, the president did allude to tariffs actually at the top of that business roundtable but also because really, in a time that
we haven't seen in this new post-World War II era really, the president is shaking things up with a lot of the United States' closest allies and Great
Britain being one of them.
And that's part of why this trip was so important, as well as why we saw so much of that pageantry yesterday. I think it really was a good primer for
the president, getting him into the right mindset as he headed into these talks with Starmer today.
ANDERSON: And let me just say that, you know, from the U.K. perspective, I mean, this trip couldn't be better time for Keir Starmer, of course. The
U.K. economy in a low and slow growth period. It looks like it will be for some years to come.
And deals like these are extremely important for a U.K. economy and a prime minister who is under an awful lot of pressure at home.
Stephen, I just want to come to you.
Do you see this trip as a win for the United States?
I do want to talk to the ambassador about how this all goes down, these deals. But just starting with you there.
STEPHEN COLLINSON, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think it's a win for Donald Trump, which is the main thrust of most American foreign
policies and foreign trips. He got the great welcome at Windsor Castle. He was very appreciative of that.
I think we need to wait and see whether the policy goals that the U.S. was after did indeed get delivered. They want lowering of digital services tax.
They want what the U.S. side sees as U.K. restrictions on freedom of speech online, which anger U.S. tech firms, which are very close to Donald Trump.
They want some of those lifted, some lowering of market access barriers. So we'll be looking out for that.
But from the point of view of the president, he got great pictures back home. He loves the adulation. He believes that this is his due. So
therefore, for him, it was a success. The one thing I would say is that, despite all of the good feelings, Trump is a very transactional president.
So you know, in the cold light of day, in the future.
[10:05:00]
Whether this really does help forge a closer relationship between the British and the Americans on key policy issues, many of which they are very
-- they have a very different perspective -- Ukraine, for example -- we'll have to see.
ANDERSON: Yes.
Look, Philip, ambassadors play key roles in these bilateral relationships between two countries. And the current U.S. ambassador in the U.K. will
have been, you know, intrinsically involved in how these deals came off, as was -- one assumes -- the former U.K. ambassador in Washington, who was
sacked just days before this trip happened.
In a very British way, I will suggest that that was rather careless for the U.K. prime minister, Keir Starmer. But it does seem he had very little
choice.
I mean, can you just explain, you know, your analysis of what you think went down?
And also just, you know, what will have been going on behind the scenes when it comes to getting these deals ready to be inked?
PHILIP REEKER, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE U.K.: Well, great, Becky. I mean, obviously ambassador Mandelson was involved. If you look at his
speeches, his commentary over the last several months since he took office early in the Trump administration, he's talked about tech as an area to
focus on.
He's reached out to businesses. So these things were in the works, the U.K. trying to entice U.S. investment, particularly in the tech and AI sectors,
to come to the United Kingdom.
Let's remember these are private companies, private equity. And they're going to do what is in their best interest with a little bit of
encouragement, of course, from president Trump and the U.S. administration. But they obviously see opportunities in the U.K.
Now as regards ambassador Lord Mandelson, obviously the situation came on very quickly in terms of the prime minister deciding that he had to ask him
to step down.
I know that the deputy head of mission at the U.K. embassy in Washington, James Roscoe, career diplomat, extraordinary experience, has worked in the
royal household, has worked at the United Nations; runs a wonderful embassy in Washington.
He took over very smoothly and I'm sure he has played a key role in all of this, just carrying forward all the planning that's been going on, after
all, for many months. It was February when prime minister Starmer delivered in the Oval Office the invitation from King Charles to the president to
have this unprecedented second state visit to the U.K.
ANDERSON: Well, Mandelson, of course, was sacked after emails seemed to reveal the extent of his former relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. And I
think we should talk about what may come up in this press conference.
Alayna, let's start with you. I mean, on the podiums there, you can see "Tech Partnership Deal." It's almost as if, you know, the two
administrations are encouraging those in the room to stick to the script.
But there is much debate about whether some, if not much of the line of questioning that may come from some of the press gathered today, may be
about Jeffrey Epstein.
How will the U.S. president cope with that?
TREENE: I think there's no question that at least one of the questions, if not many more, will be about Jeffrey Epstein.
I'd remind you, actually, on this castle behind me, Windsor Castle, on the walls just the evening before the president arrived here in Windsor, there
were -- protesters were casting pictures of him alongside Jeffrey Epstein on the castle walls.
And, of course, as you just discussed, the firing of Peter Mandelson was such a big deal just days before this trip. So there's no question, I
think, that someone is going to press him on that.
Look, the president is used to those types of questions. I know from a lot of my other colleagues in the White House Correspondents Association, other
reporters, when we're in the Oval Office or where else, having the opportunity to talk to the president, he gets asked about Epstein all the
time.
I imagine he will likely try to quickly move on and pivot from it. He often tries to argue that Epstein is in the -- there's too much focus on Epstein.
There are greater things to be talking about. I can see that happening.
I'm actually very curious to see how the prime minister, how Keir Starmer actually responds to some of those questions, given it is so delicate for
him as well.
[10:10:00]
But there's also a number of other questions I actually -- I feel like the technology deal is not going to be a big focus of it. There's so much going
back, going on back in the United States that the president needs to weigh in, let alone some of the things I'm sure came up in that bilateral meeting
with Starmer from the Ukraine and Russia war.
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: All right.
TREENE: -- it looks like we're --
ANDERSON: Stand by. I'm going to stop you there. We've just seen Melania Trump come in and Keir Starmer's wife. And now we do have the leaders
there. So let's listen in.
KEIR STARMER, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: -- is a moment to celebrate the unique bond between our two countries.
But today we've gone far beyond that. We've renewed the special relationship for a new era. The United Kingdom and the United States stand
together today as first partners on defense, first partners in trade with the groundbreaking deal we struck in May.
And now, with the new agreement that we've just signed this afternoon, we're confirming our status as the first partners in science and
technology, ready to define this century together, just as we did the last.
This tech partnership has the power to change lives. It's our chance to ensure that technologies, like AI, quantum and others, amplify human
potential, solve problems, cure diseases, make us richer and freer, strengthen the cause of democracy, not tyranny. This is the territory of
which the future will be won.
So this partnership today is a signal of our determination to win this race together and to ensure it brings real benefits in jobs, in growth, in lower
bills, to put more hard-earned cash in people's pockets at the end of each month.
That's what we are determined to deliver. And we're bringing businesses with us. We've just come from a fantastic meeting with business leaders
where we set out this vision. They have responded with new deals and investment, breaking every record that we have; 250 billion pounds flowing
both ways across the Atlantic.
That is a record expected to create 15,000 jobs here in the United Kingdom, high-skilled jobs in cutting-edge sectors, where people can build careers
for the long term, changing lives in communities up and down our country.
And, look, while we shape this bond for a new era, the fundamentals have not changed. Security remains the cornerstone of this special relationship.
We have the deepest, most advanced defense relationship in the world.
Our warriors train together and they fight together. Our industries build together, everything from Fastjets to the new Orka-class submarines.
So now, as we drive up defense spending, we're going to sweep away the barriers to working together on new defense technologies so we can stay
ahead of our adversaries. We're united in defense and security. Yes, absolutely.
But we're also united in the pursuit of peace. We are working together to end the humanitarian catastrophe in the Middle East, get the aid in, free
the hostages and ultimately bring Israel and the region back toward a comprehensive plan which can deliver peace and security for Israelis and
Palestinians alike.
We're also working together to end the killing in Ukraine. In recent days, Putin has shown his true face, mounting the biggest attack since the
invasion began with yet more bloodshed, yet more innocents killed and unprecedented violations of NATO airspace. These are not the actions of
someone who wants peace.
So we've discussed today how we can build our defenses further, support Ukraine and decisively increase the pressure on Putin to get him to agree a
peace deal that will last.
And, President Trump, you have led the way here and we will continue to stand and work together for security and for peace. Mr. President, next
year, we'll celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States.
[10:15:00]
We've come on a long journey together since 1776. But it's no exaggeration to say that the partnership our two nations have built, has shaped the
world, from the beaches of Normandy to the founding of NATO, to the creation of technologies that have revolutionized our lives.
Time and time again, it is British and American men and women, side by side, changing the path of history and turning it toward our values, toward
freedom, democracy and the rule of law. In Britain, we take huge pride in that.
And let's be clear, this relationship is not just about history. It's about the future. It's about the benefits it delivers now and for decades to
come, to make our people safer and better off.
We've shown today that we're delivering those benefits, improving people's lives, so we will go into that anniversary year more optimistic than ever
and more confident than ever about our two great nations and what they can achieve side by side.
Thank you.
And it is now my pleasure to give the floor to Mr. President. Thank you.
DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: Thank you very much, very much.
Prime Minister Starmer, Melania and I are tremendously thankful for the wonderful hospitality that you and Lady Starmer have extended today at
Chequers. Quite the place, I must say, quite the place.
And we're grateful beyond words for the spectacular honor of the state visit yesterday at Windsor Castle, hosted by His Majesty, King Charles III,
and Her Majesty, Queen Camilla. These are two fantastic people. We will never forget it.
As I said last night, the bond between our countries is like no other anywhere in the world. The United States and the United Kingdom have done
more good on this planet than any two nations in human history.
That is thanks in large part to the traditions of British liberty, which grew up on these isles, these beautiful, magnificent isles, and were
carried by our ancestors to the New World. We are forever joined and we are forever friends and we will always be friends.
This enduring connection is why I was thrilled that the United Kingdom was the very first country with which we made a historic trade deal and a very
good trade deal. He's a tough negotiator.
I think it was a better deal for you than us but these are minor details.
STARMER: It's a very good deal for both of us.
TRUMP: He is a great negotiator. It will extend our unparalleled security alliance into the realm of economic security for the first time. And I look
forward to finalizing it very soon. We'll have it done very quickly.
We have also just signed a historic technology prosperity deal, one of a kind, to ensure our countries lead the next great technological revolution
side by side. In fact, we just left the business leaders, the biggest in the world. Some are in this room right now.
And that was quite a meeting we had on business and trade and technology. This trip has galvanized $350 billion in deals across many sectors. And
we're committed to ensuring that the U.K. is a secure and reliable supply of the best AI hardware and software on Earth.
And we supply that and we'll make sure we supply it in quantity to the U.K.
We also are joining forces on quantum computing and nuclear power, a natural partnership for close allies. The United States, as you probably
have heard, is doing better than it has ever done in terms of business and investment.
The stock market has hit a new high, as you know. And that's for many, many days out of our fairly short eight months. And we seem to be hitting new
highs and I think we're going to do much better even as time goes by.
Jobs are at a record and, most importantly, we have more than $17 trillion -- and this is during an eight-month period -- being invested in the
country, which is not only a record but, if you compare $17 trillion to the last year of the Biden administration, they did $250 billion.
They didn't do $1 trillion for the four-year period. We did $17 trillion of investment coming in. A lot of it's because of tariffs.
[10:20:00]
And a lot of it's for a lot of other reasons. But there's never been anything like it. It's an economic superstar. It's what's become. It was
mismanaged and badly handled for a long period of time but it's not badly handled anymore. So that's a record.
And, remember, that's up until eight months. We have another few months to go and that number's going to get significantly higher, especially if we
win a certain case that we're waiting to hear, that will be something like the world has never seen.
I want to congratulate the United Kingdom on making the vital commitment to spend 5 percent of GDP on defense at the NATO summit this year. We've
worked together very closely in so many ways.
I'm very honored to tell you that we've solved seven wars, seven wars, wars that were unsolvable, wars that couldn't be negotiated or done. We've done
it. The U.S. has done seven of them.
The one that I thought would be easiest would be because of my relationship with President Putin but he's let me down. He's really let me down. It was
going to be Russia and Ukraine. But we'll see how that turns out. But that turned out to be -- I thought it might be among the easiest of the group.
But we had settled just about every conflict.
And as you know, we're working very hard on Israel and Gaza. All that's happening over there, complex. But it's going to be -- it's going to get
done, all get done right. And likewise, Russia and Ukraine will get done.
But it's -- you never know in war. You know, war is a different thing. Things happen that are very opposite of what you thought. You thought you
were going to have an easy time or a hard time and it turns out to be the reverse.
As we saw in the unforgettable parade yesterday at Windsor Castle, what a place it is, the British Armed Forces carry on one of the finest military
traditions in the world, one of the greatest marching bands, one of the most magnificent sites I've seen.
I know that our service members look forward and we do look forward to working even more closely with yours as you push toward that 5 percent
goal.
And I think, Mr. Prime Minister, you're just about there. You're going to be there very quickly along with a lot of other great countries.
I want to thank NATO -- and our wonderful head of NATO, who's really worked very hard, Mark -- for the job they've done. As you know, NATO is at 2
percent GDP and they didn't pay it. Now they're at 5 percent, then they pay it. And we appreciate that.
And we're sending a lot of weapons to NATO. NATO's paying for those weapons in full. But we're sending them and we're doing a great job at getting them
what they need. And we appreciate the fact that they're taking care of, because the United States is into that war for $350 billion.
And it's just really very sad, it just got out of control. They didn't know what they were doing. But over the generations, British and American
warriors have shed their blood side by side in defense of liberty and freedom.
And that's why it's so imperative that the United States and the United Kingdom stand together for these fundamental rights and values of the
English-speaking world. And we've always stood together and we will continue to.
Just last week, a great American, Charlie Kirk, was heinously assassinated for speaking his mind. He was a great young man, incredible future. Some
people said he might be president someday.
I told him, I said, Charlie, I think you have a good shot someday at being president.
And he just wanted to take care of youth. He loved youth. He was -- I've never seen anybody relate to youth like Charlie. And they related to him
and they're devastated.
But I appreciate the many British citizens who have offered their condolences. And, again, Charlie was a great person. We'll be going out to
a service on Sunday. I'll be leaving with some of the people in this room just to celebrate Charlie and all that he's done. So incredible, never seen
anything like it.
But I hope that, together, our nations can lead a movement to defend the glorious traditions of freedom on both sides of the Atlantic. There could
be no greater tribute to the immortal bonds of affection and loyalty that unite the British and the American people for all of time.
We have a relationship like no other. It will always be that way. We will always be united. We'll always be together. And I just want to thank you,
Mr. Prime Minister, for the great job that you're doing. Thank you very much.
STARMER: Thank you. Thank you very much, Mr. President.
We're going to take some questions. I'll call two or three to start with and then I'll pass over to the president.
[10:25:00]
I've got Chris Mason from the BBC first -- Chris.
QUESTION: Thank you both. Chris Mason from BBC News.
Mr. President, the U.K. is expected to recognize the Palestinian state in the coming days as the killing in Gaza continues. It often seems that you
are the only person that Israel will listen to.
What more can you say to them to tell them to stop?
And why is the U.K.'s position on a Palestinian state, in your view, wrong?
And, Prime Minister, what will the recognition of a Palestinian state actually achieve?
Is it not just gesture politics to appease people in your own party?
Thank you both.
STARMER: Well, Chris, let me just start with that because we discussed this amongst other things. We had best part of an hour, I think, upstairs
earlier today, just one-to-one, going through a number of affairs, world affairs, in private.
And we absolutely agree on the need for peace and a roadmap because the situation in Gaza is intolerable. The hostages been held for a very, very
long time and they must be freed. And we need aid to get into Gaza at speed.
And so it's within that context of a plan for peace, which we're working hard on, which not only did we discuss this morning but our two teams have
been working together on.
The question of recognition needs to be seen. And so it's part of that overall package, which, hopefully, takes us from the appalling situation
we're in now to the outcome of a safe and secure Israel, which we do not have, and a viable Palestinian state. Thank you.
TRUMP: Well, simply, I want the hostages released now, right now; not one, two, we'll give you three more tomorrow. And, you know, like it's been --
but we're the ones that got all the hostages released.
We got many, many. They came, many came to the Oval Office and I've heard stories like I've never thought even possible. There was no humanity, no
anything.
I said to them, I said, was there any warmth shown during this stay?
Like they offered you a little extra meal, they gave you a little smile and they said, don't worry, you'll be OK?
And every one of them said, not even a little bit.
Amazing, you know, to think that, during this stay, long stay in some cases -- we had a man the other day, 451 days he was there. I always ask that
question.
And was there any warmth shown?
Just a little word of, you know, encouragement?
And the answer is every time, absolutely not. I'm shocked to hear it, because, in the worst cases, there's always somebody that comes through.
We have to remember October 7th, one of the worst, most violent days in the history of the world. Not just there, the history of the world. And I got
to see the tapes and I wish I didn't see them actually. But I got to see them.
And I want an end. I want the hostages released. And I think it's going to be OK. But it has been a brutal period of time.
But this has been going on for a long time. This is not something that's over the last year, two years, but this has been for decades and decades.
But we want it to end. We have to have the hostages back immediately.
That's what the people of Israel want. They want them back. And we want the fighting to stop and it's going to stop.
But a lot of bad things, you know; Hamas said that they're going to put the hostages up as bait. They're going to put the hostages in front of any
attack and that's pretty brutal. We haven't heard that one in a long time. So we have to remember that.
So I have a disagreement with the prime minister on that score, one of our few disagreements, actually.
STARMER: Can I take Jack from "The Sun," -- Jack.
QUESTION: Thank you both. Jack Elsom, from "The Sun."
Mr. President, in the nine months you've been in office, you've been incredibly successful in all but eliminating crossings in your southern
border. Meanwhile, illegal migration is at record levels in Britain. The prime minister is trying to tackle that.
What advice would you give to the man standing next to you on trying to stop illegal migration in Britain?
And, Prime Minister, if I can just ask, the president is all about "drill, baby, drill," in terms of trying to secure American energy and cut bills
for Americans. Meanwhile, you are turning Britain's back on oil and gas in favor of renewable energies, such as wind turbines.
Why do you think that you are right and he's wrong?
TRUMP: So we had millions of people flowing in totally unchecked, totally unvetted, from the Biden administration -- 25 million. In my opinion, that
would be about 25 million.
They came from prisons. They came from mental institutions. They were gang members. They were drug dealers. They came from the Congo. They came from
all parts of South America. They came from everywhere. Think of it, prisoners from the Congo being released into the United States.
[10:30:00]
Prisons opened up in Venezuela and many other countries pouring into the United States. And I couldn't believe it. One of the reasons I decided to
run, I decided to run because I do not want to be controversial.
But you see what has happened and you see all the information that has come out. We won in 2020 big. And I said let's run. We got to run because I saw
what was happening. And the worst thing I saw was all of these people -- you know, we've already solved inflation.
We solved prices. Oil is way down and energy is way down in the United States. But what I saw happening with millions of people pouring into our
country, I couldn't stand to watch it. And we have done a great job. Nobody, if you've seen the last -- I appreciate your question, by the way.
Nobody, absolutely zero -- and I am not sure that's possible -- but it is a very liberal group that come out with those statistics. The last three
months we had zero. From millions of people a year ago, we have zero people enter our country illegally.
And we do have people coming in legally through a legal process and testing and lots of other things. I think it is very important and we speak about
it. And I think your situation is very similar. You have people coming in.
And I told the prime minister I would stop it and it does not matter if you call out the military. It doesn't matter what means you use. But it is
going to destroy -- it destroys countries from within.
And we are actually now removing a lot of the people who came into the country. It's a very hard choice. It's a very -- we were given a very, very
bad hand. Millions of people came in from prisons and mental institutions. We have to remove them. And we are removing them. We have no choice and I
feel strongly about it. Thank you very much.
STARMER: Jack, let me just deal with the question of returns because this is obviously an issue we are taking incredibly seriously. We have struck a
number of deals both on cooperation with other countries, because this is a problem right across Europe.
To tackle the problem, breaking up the gangs running this trade. We have had a record number of returns, over 35,000 now since we came into office.
That is the highest number for the best part of 10 years.
We struck the returns arrangement with France, notwithstanding the challenges that we have seen, which you have seen over the last few days. A
flight went off at 6:15 this morning, successfully returning someone under that scheme.
So that is an important step forward. Obviously it's (INAUDIBLE). There is a range of things that need to be done.
But given the challenges of returning people, it is important we're able to prove it can be done. It was done It was done early this morning. So I can
confirm that that flight went. It went successfully. And I am pleased about that.
Now we need to ramp that up at scale, which was always in position under the scheme. But it is very important that we have been able to prove -- the
proof of concept, if you like, that this can be done and we'll continue in that way.
On the question of energy, firstly, let me be really clear that I am absolutely determined to ensure that the price and cost of energy comes
down. So the bills come down both for individuals and families with the household bills but also for business. Because this is so important.
The mix will include all the gas for many years to come from the North Sea. We've been clear about that for some time. But we need to mix that with
renewables. And it's the mix that's really important. And the approach I have taken on this, as we say in the approach, as I say, too many other
things, a pragmatic approach.
Thank you, Jack.
TRUMP: I would like to say we inherited the worst inflation in the history of our country. We have inflation the likes of which we have never seen. I
will accept that. But I really don't. We had a expression that I used a lot, "drill, baby, drill." And as you know, we brought fuel ways, the
prices way down. And we don't do wind because wind is a disaster. It's a very expensive joke, frankly. And we got our energy prices way down.
That brought the inflation way down and now we have very little inflation. And we have a very, very strong economy. So that was very important,
"drill, baby, drill."
And you have a great asset here. We spoke about it, the North Sea. The North Sea oil is phenomenal. And I hope -- because I love this country. You
know, my mother was born in Scotland, as in the Hebrides, at Stornaway. That's a serious compliment (ph).
We were talking about it and I want this country to do well. And you have great assets that you are going to using, I believe, under this prime
minister.
STARMER: Thank you.
I have Matthew from "The Economist" -- Matthew.
QUESTION: Thank you, Prime Minister.
[10:35:00]
Mr. President, you say President Putin has let you down.
Have negotiations run out of road and what are your next steps to compel an end to this war?
TRUMP: He has let me down, I mean, he's killing many people. And he's losing what people that he's -- you know, that he's killing. I mean,
frankly, the Russian soldiers are being killed at a higher rate than the Ukrainian soldiers.
Yes, I said he let me down. I don't like to see -- it's that, you know, it doesn't affect the United States. We have other -- and unless you end up in
a world war over this thing -- you could -- this was a thing that would have never happened had I been president.
If I were president, it would have never happened. And it didn't happen for four years. People -- most people agree. It didn't happen nor was it close
to happening. And I spoke to president Putin about Ukraine. It was the apple of his eye. I have said that many times. It was.
But he would have never done what he did except that he didn't respect the leadership of the United States. They just went through the Afghanistan
total disaster for no reason whatsoever. We were going to leave Afghanistan but we were going to leave it with strength and dignity.
And we were going to keep Bagram, the big airbase that -- one of the biggest airbases in the world. We gave it to them for nothing. We are
trying to get it back, by the way. That could be a little breaking news. We're trying to get it back because they need things from us.
We want that base back. But one of the reasons we want the base is, as you know, it is an hour away from where China makes its nuclear weapons. So a
lot of things are happening.
But I am very disappointed in the fact that that one's not settled. To think that we settled Aberbaijan (sic) and Albania as an example. It was
going on for years. It was never going to be settled.
If you remember the prime minister and the presidents and the -- they were there for many years. They said, when we were in my office, I said we
settled. And then they started off at both sides of the Oval Office. So far away. I did not know you could be so far away.
And as we were together for an hour and they kept getting closer and closer. And by the time we finished, we all hugged each other.
One said, I was -- I have been in this position for 22 years and all I have done is kill their people. The other was there for seven years and all he
did was kill their people. And we got it settled. And we did others, as you know, the Congo.
The Congo we did. We settled the Congo with Rwanda that was going on. And that was a machete war. That was a gruesome war. Many people, close to 10
million people killed. We got that.
So my biggest disappointment -- but it is -- you know, look. We did seven. And most of them were not thought to be settleable. We did Pakistan. That's
two nuclear -- and that was purely for trade. If you want to trade with us, you are going to have to get along.
And they were going at it hot and heavy. But the Russia situation, I hope we are going to have good news for you coming up. But again, it does not
affect the United States. And he -- look, it doesn't so much affect you or -- because you are a lot closer to the scene than we are. We have a whole
ocean separating us.
But I will say this, it's -- millions of people died in that war, millions of souls. And they are not American. And they are soldiers, mostly
soldiers, as you know. The soldiers are being killed at levels nobody has seen since the Second World War. But they are being killed. And I feel I
have an obligation to get it settled for (INAUDIBLE).
STARMER: Thank you. I just want to add on that question because we have to put extra pressure on Putin. And it is only when the president has put
pressure on Putin that he is actually showing any information to be (INAUDIBLE). So we have to run that pressure up.
And it's important to have this conversation in the context of what's happening in recent week. We saw the damage of bombing to the British
Council in Kyiv. These are targets that, it was thought until recently were not targets that would be hit.
The British Council, the European Union embassy; the Council of Ministers, where President Zelenskyy's ministers work, was hit again. These were
thought to be places that wouldn't be hit. Then the incursion into Poland last week.
And if you put that together, what you can see is either an emboldenment or at least an increased recklessness on Putin's part. And that's why I said
earlier, that they are not the actions of someone who wants peace.
So we have to ramp up. And we discussed earlier today that we have built the Coalition of the Willing with British leadership and French leadership,
stepping up with military planning in the seas, in the sky, in the -- and on the ground. And ramping up what we do with Ukrainians themselves.
And of course, that, taken with an American guarantee, is now an example, I think, of the challenge of Europe stepping up to the plate.
[10:40:00]
Which it has done in the last few months, to show and through what we and the French have done. But we're prepared to take the lead in this and take
the necessary measures.
TRUMP: That's a war that could've have been a third world war. And I don't think we're going to be there now. But that was heading to a third world
war. And what a shame it is, what a shame it is.
STARMER: Mr. President, did you want to call some of the --
(CROSSTALK)
TRUMP: I would love to, a few of them.
Bev (ph), do you want to have a question?
QUESTION: Having been in D.C. for a few weeks, it's really interesting to see how you run the country as a proud Christian leader.
And it really begs the question to the prime minister, if you don't mind, are we still a Christian country?
But also --
(CROSSTALK)
TRUMP: When you say "we," are you talking here or --
QUESTION: Kyiv.
I am still British.
(CROSSTALK)
QUESTION: But also --
TRUMP: I can give you that answer.
(LAUGHTER)
QUESTION: That is for the prime minister.
But also, despite what we talked about in Scotland a few weeks ago, we still have 12,000 people a year here being arrested for social media posts,
for free speech violations.
Does that not remain an important area that there is still a lot of disagreement on?
TRUMP: I'd like to have you answer that.
STARMER: Yes, look, I mean, signs of a quitting country (ph), I was prison (ph). So that is my church has been all my life. And we are -- you know,
that is widened to our informal constitution. Of course, we celebrate many other faiths as well.
And I am really proud that we are able to do so as a country. And in free speech, that has long lived in this country. Free speech is one of the
founding values of the United Kingdom. And we protect it jealously and fiercely and always will.
And we will bear down on any limits on free speech. I draw a limit between free speech and the speech of those that want to peddle pedophilia and
suicide on social media to children.
And therefore I am all for free speech and also protecting children from the things that will harm them, pedophiles, those that peddle suicide,
which has a terrible consequence for individuals, particularly teenagers. So that is the balance we strike. But we have had freedom of speech in this
country for a very long time and we will always protect it.
Thank you.
TRUMP: Thank you very much.
Bryan (ph), please.
QUESTION: Thank you.
Prime Minister, it's good to see you again. You have a beautiful country. Thanks for having us.
(CROSSTALK)
QUESTION: I have two questions.
One, just recently, president Trump labeled Antifa a domestic terrorist.
Would you consider doing something like that in your country?
STARMER: Well, we obviously will take decisions for ourselves. I don't want to comment on the decisions of the president. But we take those
decisions ourselves.
QUESTION: And my question to you, president Trump, is there any update on the auto pen?
TRUMP: Yes, actually, it has gotten worse from their standpoint. At least he -- the people that used it -- and one in particular, one person -- was
never told by Biden to do it.
Only spoke to Biden twice. And that was just talking about the weather, not talking about any order (ph) and he was taking orders from people other
than Joe Biden. Joe Biden wasn't giving any of those orders.
You know, Joe Biden didn't believe in open borders. He didn't. I have known him for a long time. He was never the brightest bulb in the ceiling, as we
know. You can go back 40 years ago and you'll see that.
Go back and take a look at the hearings on Justice Thomas. And you'll see that very much. But he didn't believe in open borders and all of this
nonsense that they're peddling now, which is why they're not in office any longer. And it's a shame.
The auto pen was illegal. It was illegally used. He never gave the orders. He never told them what to do. I guess the only one he signed or one of the
few he signed was the pardon for his son.
But you had the congressman, who, when they got the information, they found out they were guilty and they deleted and destroyed all information,
everything. You couldn't get any of it.
They found out that Nancy Pelosi actually was offered the 10,000 soldiers and she turned them down. They found out many things that were very bad, so
they deleted and destroyed all information. You talk about freedom of the press and freedom of speech, how about that one?
And there's not a thing -- this is after 1.5 years of hearings. They destroyed everything. And somebody has got to be held responsible. So
Biden, what he did is they do -- I don't think he knew but somebody knew. I don't think Biden had a clue about anything, if you want to know the
truth.
[10:45:03]
But they gave a pardon to those congresspeople. They gave a pardon. Those people are so guilty. They gave a pardon. But Biden didn't know about it.
The people, whether it's Lisa or any of those people in there, that really ran it, I know them all. And they are sick people. They're smart people.
They are very smart.
they're probably brilliant but they're sick in ideology. And they were running the auto pen and it was totally illegal, what he did. And I hope
it's going to be so judged.
STARMER: If you want to, take another one (ph) --
(CROSSTALK)
TRUMP: OK.
(CROSSTALK)
TRUMP: Let's see -- Peter, go ahead.
QUESTION: (OFF MIKE COMMENTS).
In the deal you're working on to -- for the Chinese to sell TikTok to an American buyer --
TRUMP: Yes.
QUESTION: -- are the Americans going to have to come up with their own algorithm or are they going to continue to use these successful but
addictive Chinese algorithms?
TRUMP: So what we're doing -- and we're speaking to president Xi on Friday to see if we can finalize something on TikTok. Because there is tremendous
value and I hate to give away value.
But I like TikTok. I -- it helped get me elected. In fact, Charlie said, sir, you ought to get on TikTok. You would be great.
I said really?
Tell me about TikTok. And we did, as you know, we did unbelievably well with youth, like at a level that no Republican has ever even dreamt of.
And it wasn't -- you know, look, I think we won it for a lot of reasons but that was a reason we won the election by such a big number. TikTok has
tremendous value. The United States has that value in its hand because we're the ones that have to approve it.
I specifically get the right to approve it. And the people that are investing in it are among the greatest investors in the world, the biggest,
the richest. And they'll do a great job.
And we're doing it in conjunction with China. But we are getting -- the United States is getting a tremendous fee plus -- I call it fee plus -- for
just making the deal. And I do not want to throw that out the window.
I can say this, that you will have a lot of very unhappy youth. And I used TikTok very legitimately, very stretchist (ph) statements. Every day, I'd
do a little statement, short statements.
Sir, make it short, please. And TikTok Jack, we call him. It was pretty good. He did a good job for me, I guess. But no, I would rather reap the
benefits. I mean, the kind of money we are talking about is very substantial.
And it will be owned by all American investors and you know, the best investors. And the, you know, very rich people and companies are going to
be owning it, very straight, very legitimate countries (sic), the companies. And really companies that love America. So they're going to be
owning it.
So it's a big thing. And on a much bigger scale -- and probably that's why we're able to get that -- but on a much bigger scale. We're pretty close to
it. We may do an extension with China but it's an extension on the same terms that we have right now, which are pretty good terms.
QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE) Prime Minister Starmer, if you feel so strongly about officially recognizing Palestine for statehood, why are you waiting
for president Trump to leave the country?
Why can't you just do it right now.
And isn't there a risk in rewarding Hamas with that?
STARMER: Well, let me be really clear about that. They're a terrorist organization who have no part in any future government in Palestine. And
what happened on October the 7th was the worst attack since the Holocaust.
We have extended family in Israel. I understand firsthand the psychological impact that that had across Israel. So I know exactly where I stand in
relationship to Hamas.
Hamas also want a two-state solution. They don't want this. They don't want a cease-fire. I'm very clear on where I stand on that.
On the question of recognition, I made my position there at the end of July, the timing has got nothing to do with this state visit. And I am
disgusted with the president, as you would expect, amongst two leaders. We respect each other and like each other and want to bring about a better
solution. I think that's the best way to end (ph).
Thank you so much.
Can I go back then to Robert?
(INAUDIBLE).
QUESTION: Mr. President, you uniquely, you alone in the whole world have the power to persuade prime minister Netanyahu to stop the demolition in
Gaza City, to stop starvation of Palestine and to stop killing of civilians.
(CROSSTALK)
QUESTION: If not now, when will you exercise that power and tell them to stop?
And then for both of you --
TRUMP: Well, you do understand about October 7th?
(CROSSTALK)
TRUMP: You do understand --
(CROSSTALK)
TRUMP: one of the worst days in the history of humanity, what happened. I have seen the tapes. Babies that are 4 months old, just chopped up to
pieces.
[10:50:04]
You have seen the tapes and I have seen the tapes. You are a professional and so am I and people forget about October 7th. I can't forget about it.
So I want it to end but I want the hostages back. I don't want the hostages used as human shields, which is what Hamas is threatening to do.
QUESTION: But soon as they're back, that's the moment you will tell Netanyahu to stop --
(CROSSTALK)
TRUMP: Well, it would certainly help. But I have to have the hostages back. And I don't want them back piecemeal, as I said before. I want them
back.
QUESTION: And (INAUDIBLE) similar issue, free speech. Your vice president Vance said that free speech is under attack in the U.K.
Do you agree with him?
And Prime Minister, we saw the dismissal of a very well-known chat show host in America last night, Mr. Kimmel.
Is free speech more under attack in Britain or America?
TRUMP: Well, Jimmy Kimmel was fired because he had bad ratings more than anything else and he said a horrible thing about a great gentleman, known
as Charlie Kirk. And Jimmy Kimmel is not a talented person. He had very bad ratings and they should have fired him a long time ago.
So you can call that free speech or not. He was fired for lack of talent. (INAUDIBLE).
STARMER: Yes. And then firstly, on the question of Charlie Kirk, can I just express how shocking that is, I think, to everybody who believes in
free speech and in democracy. And it sent shockwaves through the world.
And I know that he was a friend of the president and I reached out straightaway to the president because I understood how impactful it would
be on him and his family. And we all need to be absolutely clear about that, whatever our political views. It is shocking and is to be condemned.
On free speech, I'll -- not much to add to the answer I gave. This country has had free speech for a very, very long time and it is part of who we are
as a country. And it is the values that we fought for.
We fought for it during the Second World War alongside each other. So we need no reminding of the importance of free speech in this country. Thank
you, Robert.
And I go to Beth for the final question, please, Beth.
QUESTION: Thank you, sir.
(CROSSTALK)
QUESTION: Thank you, prime minister.
If I could start with you, Prime Minister, president Trump has said he is ready to impose major sanctions on Russia if NATO countries stop purchasing
Russian oil.
He has got a point, hasn't he?
Is it not what you now believe is needed to bring Putin properly to the table?
And what is your message to the president on U.S. sanctions?
And Mr. President, if I may, the king praised your personal commitment last night to finding solutions to the world's most intractable conflicts. You
have invested much of your time and effort in Ukraine.
But even as you seek to broker a deal, President Putin is escalating the war. He's firing drones into NATO airspace. You say he has let you down.
Was it a mistake to invite him to Alaska?
Do you regret it?
TRUMP: No --
QUESTION: And is it time to squeeze him, sir, and scare him and impose sanctions?
And finally, if I may, the elephant into the room, Lord Mandelson, he is no longer the ambassador.
Do you have some sympathy with him that he lost his job over historic links to Jeffrey Epstein?
Thank you very much.
TRUMP: I don't know him, actually. I had heard that and I think maybe the prime minister would be better speaking of that, that was a choice that he
made. And I don't know.
What is your answer (INAUDIBLE)?
STARMER: Well, that is very straightforward. Some information came to light last week which wasn't available when he was appointed and I made a
decision about him that's very clear.
On the question of the pressure on Putin and on Russia, which is obviously really important, look, I think it is a challenge to Europe. There are a
number of European countries which are too reliant on energy from Russia. The U.K. actually obviously has almost got nothing at all.
But we need to bear down and work with our European counterparts. There are one or two countries, I think, that do need to look again. But at the
question earlier (ph), there is no one silver bullet. We do have to have a wider sweep of sanctions, which we put in place a number of times, working
across Europe and with the United States.
And, of course, we must -- and we are -- making sure Ukrainians are in the strongest position now, because one of my long concerns that has been
vastly talked about a ceasefire. And we will want a cease-fire and we talked about what might happen after a cease-fire.
We mustn't forget that Ukraine needs our support now. We've said we stand with Ukraine from the start to finish.
[10:55:00]
And that means to continue to supply them with what they need in order to fight this war, which, of course, resulted from and is a result of Russian
aggression.
We have particularly done the leadership role in the Coalition of the Willing so that, if there is a cease-fire and there is a deal -- And I do
hope there is -- that he's then lasting and not then broken. Because given previous history, I don't trust Putin. Thank you.
TRUMP: Very simply, if the price of oil comes down, Putin is going to drop out. He's going to have no choice. He's going to drop out of that war.
And when I found out that the European nations were buying oil from Russia and, as you know, I am very close to India. I'm very close to the prime
minister of India. I spoke to him the other day and wished them a happy birthday. We have a very good relationship. He put out a beautiful
statement, too.
We have -- but I said, you know, I sanctioned them. China is paying a very large tariff right now to the United States. But I'm willing to do other
things. But not when the people that I am fighting for are buying oil from Russia.
If the oil price comes down, very simply, Russia will settle. And the oil price is way down. You know, we got it way down. We're drilling and we've
produced more oil than anybody else in the world. We're doing a lot.
But I was disappointed to see that and the prime minister was disappointed to see that. And it wasn't him; it was other countries. And you can't do
that. You can't -- that's not -- that's not playing fair with the United States. And we can't have that. Thank you.
STARMER: Thank you very much indeed.
Thank you.
TRUMP: Thank you.
(APPLAUSE)
ANDERSON: All right. Well, you've been listening to a press conference with the leaders of the U.K. and the U.S.
It was a wide-ranging press conference. Questions taken on Ukraine, on Gaza, on free speech. Let me just give you the kind of the bottom lines on
some of this. And you will get more as CNN continues when we move into the next show.
But just winding up what we've been doing here. Donald Trump said on Russia that Vladimir Putin has let me down. He said it, Russia's war on Ukraine,
doesn't affect the U.S., he says, unless we end up in a world war, which he said we could. But he said, if the price of oil comes down, he, Putin, will
have no choice but to settle.
And he said, I should have some good news for you soon. But, of course, we've heard that a number of times and we are yet to get good news.
The U.K. prime minister said that he hopes U.K. recognition of a Palestinian state will help end the appalling situation in Gaza. And the
U.S. president said that they had agreed to differ on that issue of recognition.
He said, when asked by Robert Peston of ITN, whether, you know, Robert Peston asked the U.S. president, you have the power to stop Benjamin
Netanyahu.
So what's stopping you stopping the conflict now?
The president was very clear. He said he wants the hostages back and he doesn't want to see them used as bait.
And they talked about free speech. JD Vance has said that free speech is under attack in the U.K. The U.S. president was asked whether he agreed
with that. We didn't really get an answer on that. But there was much discussion of free speech as well as talk of the trade deals that have been
cut between these two countries.
So we are going to hand it over after this short break to the next show and more on what was discussed between the U.S. and the U.K. then. That's it
for CONNECT THE WORLD. Stay with us. "ONE WORLD" is up next.
END
