DONALD Trump has said Britain should be ready to use the military to stop illegal migration.
Trump said: “It doesn’t matter if you call out the military, it doesn’t matter what means you use, but it’s going to destroy… it destroys countries from within.”
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He made the comments after he was asked by The Sun’s Political Editor Jack Elsom what advice he would give Sir Keir.
He claimed millions had crossed into the US under Joe Biden, including prisoners and gang members, but boasted: “The last three months, we had zero… A year ago, we had zero people enter our country illegally.”
Trump added his administration was now removing those who had entered unlawfully, saying: “It’s a very hard chore. 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 very strongly about it.”
The US President also said he had expected the war in Ukraine to be “among the easiest” to resolve because of his relationship with Putin but admitted that has not happened – saying Russia’s leader has “let me down”.
Starmer said “we are working together to end the killing in Ukraine” and add pressure on Putin.
He then blasted suggestions that it is “gesture politics” to recognise Palestine, adding: “We absolutely agree on the need for peace and a roadmap because the situation in Gaza is intolerable.
But Trump said he “disagrees” with Sir Keir on recognising Palestine.
Starmer earlier hailed a new £250billion transatlantic investment deal as the “biggest investment package of its kind in British history, by a country mile.”
It is believed to create up to 15,000 jobs in what Starmer called “life-changing” for Brits.
He said: “It comes down to the connections between our people, ties of family and friendship. The president himself is a shining example of that.”
A busy day with the Royals…
“And I think it’s an unbreakable bond we have, regardless of what we’re doing today, I think it’s unbreakable.”
The deal will help the two countries get ahead in AI advancement, and the leaders held up the signed agreement for photos as the beamed at one another.
The technology prosperity deal will offer major investment by US tech firms in the UK, and this will help to develop its AI capabilities.
The PM also hailed the prospect of some £150 billion flowing into the UK from big US companies such as Blackstone and Palantir.
The additional £100bn comes from UK investment into the US.
The PM and Trump have an unlikely friendship, with the President previously calling Sir Keir a “good man” with a “beautiful accent”.
What is Trump and Starmer’s new deal?
The UK and US have sealed a £31 billion “Tech Prosperity Deal” to supercharge cooperation in AI, quantum computing and nuclear energy, with American tech giants leading the charge.
Microsoft will pump in £22 billion to build UK cloud and AI infrastructure including a new supercomputer, while Nvidia is supplying 120,000 GPUs for a sovereign AI project. Google is spending £5 billion on a huge new data centre in Waltham Cross, and CoreWeave will invest £1.5 billion to expand AI capacity in Scotland.
Ministers say the pact will fast-track breakthroughs in drug discovery, cancer treatments and medical research, while also boosting nuclear power to deliver cleaner, cheaper energy.
A new “AI Growth Zone” in the North East is tipped to create 5,000 jobs and billions in investment.
Ministers argue it secures British sovereignty over critical infrastructure, though critics warn it could leave the UK dependent on US firms.
For consumers, this could mean earlier access to AI-powered healthcare that spots illnesses sooner and makes treatment more personalised.
It should also make everyday online services faster and more reliable, with new data centres cutting delays.
Investment in nuclear power could help stabilise energy bills in the years ahead.
And the thousands of new tech jobs created may bring better opportunities and higher wages for families across the UK, not just in London.
It comes after the embattled PM admitted he knew Peter Mandelson was being probed over emails to Jeffrey Epstein – and still continued backing him.
This morning, Trump said a formal goodbye to the King after a dazzling first day of the historic state visit.
The US leader sat next to the King and Princess Kate for the extravagant banquet last night, and appeared delighted at the festivities.
Pomp and pageantry was out in full force, with the scale and spectacle of the military ceremonial on show for Trump unprecedented.
Read our live coverage below...
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Starmer says he is taking illegal migration seriously
SIR Keir Starmer insisted he is “taking incredibly seriously” the challenge of tackling illegal migration.
He told the press conference: “We struck a number of deals, both on cooperation with other countries, because this is a problem right across Europe, to tackle the problem of actually breaking up the gangs that are running this trade.
“We have had a record number of returns, over 35,000 now since we came into office.
“That’s the highest number for the best part of 10 years, we struck the returns’ arrangement with France, and notwithstanding the challenges to that scheme, which you’ve seen in the last few days, a flight went off at 06.15 this morning, successfully returning someone under that scheme.
“So that is an important step forward. Obviously, there’s no silver bullet here. There’s 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.”
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North Sea oil is ‘phenomenal’
Donald Trump hailed the North Sea and its oil resources as “phenomenal”.
The US President implored Net Zero-loving Sir Keir to make the most of it by drilling.
Mr Trump said: “The North Sea oil is phenomenal.
“And I hope, because I love this country, you know?
“My mother was born in Scotland, the Hebrides, Stornoway, that’s serious Scotland, we were talking about it.
“And I want this country to do well and you have great assets that you’ve got to start using, I believe, under this Prime Minister.”
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Britain should be ready to use the military to stop illegal migration
US President Donald Trump said Britain should be ready to use the military to stop illegal migration.
Asked by The Sun’s Political Editor Jack Elsom what advice he would give Sir Keir, Mr Trump said : “You have people coming in, and I told the Prime Minister I would stop it.
“And it doesn’t matter if you call out the military, it doesn’t matter what means you use, but it’s going to destroy… it destroys countries from within.”
He claimed millions had crossed into the US under Joe Biden, including prisoners and gang members, but boasted: “The last three months, we had zero… A year ago, we had zero people enter our country illegally.”
Trump added his administration was now removing those who had entered unlawfully, saying: “It’s a very hard chore. 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 very strongly about it.”
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Trump’s direct message for Hamas
Donald Trump has sent a direct message to Hamas that he wants all hostages released now.
The US President revealed that “he saw the tapes” of the October 7th atrocities – insisting he wish he hadn’t seen the images.
He added that he was “working very hard on Israel and Gaza”.
It comes as Sir Keir Starner is due to recognise Palestine within a matter of days putting him in direct conflict with the US leader.
The US President added: “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 I have a disagreement with the Prime Minister on that score. One of our few disagreements, actually.”
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Trump and Starmer at odds over Palestine
Donald Trump says he “disagrees” with Sir Keir on recognising Palestine.
But he adds the difference in opinion is just one of the “few” the pair have.
The US President said: “So I have a disagreement with the Prime Minister on that score.
“One of our few disagreements, actually.”
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Trump disagrees with Starmer on Palestine
President Donald Trump has said he disagrees with Starmer on the Palestinian state.
He said: “Simply, I want all the hostages released.”
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Starmer speaks on Palestine state
Sir Keir Starmer blasts suggestions that it is “gesture politics” to recognise Palestine, adding: “We absolutely agree on the need for peace and a roadmap because the situation in Gaza is intolerable.
The PM said: “The hostages have been held for a very, very long time and they must be freed and they need aid to get into Gaza at speed and so it’s within that context of a plan for peace, which we are working hard on, which not only did we discuss this morning but our teams have been working together on, in which the question of recognition needs to be seen.”
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Trump ‘really let down’ by Putin
DONALD Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin has “really let me down” over his efforts to end the Ukraine conflict.
The US President said he had expected the war to be “among the easiest” to resolve because of his relationship with Putin but admitted that has not happened.
He instead highlighted what he called America’s success in resolving other disputes, declaring: “I’m very honoured to tell you that we’ve solved seven wars, wars that were unsolvable, wars that couldn’t be negotiated or done.”
The President also congratulated the UK on its “vital commitment” to spend 5 per cent of GDP on defence, and said he was working “very hard on Israel and Gaza.”
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Starmer is ‘great negotiator’, Trump says
DONALD Trump hailed Sir Keir Starmer as a “great negotiator” as the UK and US grow closer trade ties.
The US President hailed the recent prosperity deal and praised the tech deal signed on this trip to the UK.
Trump lauded Starmer saying the trade pact “was a better deal for you than it was for us, he’s a tough negotiator”.
Sir Keir added it was a good deal for both countries.
About the relationship between the two countries, Trump said “we will always be friends”.
Sir Keir said it was “no exaggeration to say the relationship our two nations together has shaped the world”.
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Trump praises royals calling King and Queen ‘fantastic people’
In his press conference opening address, Donald Trump says he is “tremendously thankful” for the hospitality at Chequers.
He described the heritage home as “quite the place, I must say, quite the place”.
The US President continued lavishing praise on the royals.
He said the King and Queen are “two fantastic people” and that the US and the UK have done “more good on this planet than any two nations in history”.
Trump said: “We are forever joined and we are forever friends and we will always be friends.”
The US President also said the UK got a “better deal for you than us” on trade.
Sir Keir said it was a “very good deal” despite tariffs.
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US – UK relationship is about the future, says Starmer
SIR Keir Starmer insisted the US-UK relationship is not “just about history” but about “the future”.
He said: “Next year we’ll celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States. 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 revolutionised 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 towards our values, towards 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.”
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Trump thanks Starmer for hospitality
Trump has opened his joint press conference speech by thanking the Prime Minister for his hospitality.
He praised Chequers as a “beautiful place” and thanked Starmer for hosting him and his staff their.
Trump said Chequers is “quite the place, I must say, quite the place.”
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Starmer says UK and US united in ‘pursuit of peace’
Sir Keir said: “We are 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 towards 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 defences 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.”
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Starmer anticipates questions on Palestine
Anticipating questions on the UK and US’ differences on recognising Palestine, Sir Keir Starmer said: “We are working together to end the humanitarian crisis in the Middle East.”
The PM reiterated calls for Israel to end the war in Gaza and for Hamas to release Israeli hostages.
Sir Keir also insisted he and Mr Trump are united in wanting to “end the killing in Ukraine”.
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UK – US have ‘renewed the special relationship for a new era’
SIR Keir Starmer used the Chequers press conference to declare that the UK and US had “renewed the special relationship for a new era.”
He said the two nations stood together as “first partners on defence, first partners in trade” and now “first partners in science and technology.”Hailing the new tech agreement with Donald Trump, the PM said: “This tech partnership has the power to change lives… 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 on which the future will be won.”
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Starmer speaks first
Keir Starmer has opened the joint press conference by again hailing the “unique bond” shared between the UK and the US.
He touted the new tech deal adding: “confirming our status as the first partners in science and technology, ready to define this century together, just as we did the last”.
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Press conference gets underway as Trump and Starmer arrive at the grand room in Chequers
The Prime Minister and the President have arrived for their joint press conference.
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Cabinet Ministers arrive at press conference
US Cabinet Ministers have entered the grand room in Chequers where the press conference is imminent.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent are here.
On the podium it says Tech Prosperity Deal, suggesting the leaders are keen to talk the economy.
(L-R) White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, White House deputy chief of staff for policy and US homeland security advisor Stephen Miller.
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Journalists fill the room as press conference slightly delayed
A podium has been set up for Trump and for Starmer with Union Jacks and Star Spangled Banners lining the wall behind them.
The press conference is expected to start any minute with the two world leaders preparing to field questions form reporters.
It comes shortly after a business conference saw the two leaders announce a new tech prosperity deal.
The press conference is starting slightly later than expected.
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Donald Trump and Keir Starmer to hold press conference shortly
Donald Trump and Keir Starmer are setting up to hold a press conference at Chequers.
The room has been prepared for the two world leaders and journalists are beginning to gather.
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Trumps and Starmers assemble for army parachute display
Melania, Donald, Keir and Victoria have gathered at Chequers to watch a display by the Red Devils.
Trump was seen making a fist and mouthing “thank you” to the performers before heading inside for his press conference, which is expected to start soon.
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Trump and Starmer say new deal will see UK and US dominate the future of AI
The new tech prosperity deal between the US and the UK will see the two countries dominate the future of artificial intelligence, Trump says.
“This agreement will also help America and our British allies dominate the future of artificial intelligence.”
He added that the US is “leading China and the world by a lot.”
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Trump jokes with US politicians as he signs tech deal
Donald Trump joked with his team as he signed the tech prosperity deal.
He said he would blame his Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick if the “deal’s no good.”
He said: “Should I sign this Howard? Scott? If the deal’s no good I’m blaming you.”
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Who attended the conference?
The Prime Minister and the President invited giants of industry to the signing of their “tech prosperity” deal.
Chief executives of Nvidia, Microsoft, Rolls-Royce, Boeing, BAE Systems, GlaxoSmithKline, Alphabet, BlackRock and Citi Group were in attendance.
The conference was held in a tent in the garden of Chequers with Union Jack flags and stars and stripes decorating the walls.
Also in attendance were politicians from both sides of the pond.
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The new tech prosperity deal in detail:
The UK and US have sealed a £31 billion “Tech Prosperity Deal” to supercharge cooperation in AI, quantum computing and nuclear energy, with American tech giants leading the charge.
Microsoft will pump in £22 billion to build UK cloud and AI infrastructure including a new supercomputer, while Nvidia is supplying 120,000 GPUs for a sovereign AI project.
Google is spending £5 billion on a huge new data centre in Waltham Cross, and CoreWeave will invest £1.5 billion to expand AI capacity in Scotland.
Ministers say the pact will fast-track breakthroughs in drug discovery, cancer treatments and medical research, while also boosting nuclear power to deliver cleaner, cheaper energy.
A new “AI Growth Zone” in the North East is tipped to create 5,000 jobs and billions in investment.
Ministers argue it secures British sovereignty over critical infrastructure, though critics warn it could leave the UK dependent on US firms.
For consumers, this could mean earlier access to AI-powered healthcare that spots illnesses sooner and makes treatment more personalised.
It should also make everyday online services faster and more reliable, with new data centres cutting delays.
Investment in nuclear power could help stabilise energy bills in the years ahead.
And the thousands of new tech jobs created may bring better opportunities and higher wages for families across the UK, not just in London.