'Charmer Starmer' plays the 'Trump card'

Like most of Friday’s papers, the Daily Mail is dominated by the “unlikely bromance” that was on display between Donald Trump and Sir Keir Starmer when the pair met at the White House. The first meeting between the two leaders since the US president’s latest election win appears to have been a very cordial one.

Daily Mail front page — Like most of Friday’s papers, the Daily Mail is dominated by the “unlikely bromance” that was on display between Donald Trump and Sir Keir Starmer when the pair met at the White House. The first meeting between the two leaders since the US president’s latest election win appears to have been a very cordial one.

The i newspaper hails “charmer Starmer” and says a “jovial” president showered praise on the prime minister. The pair discussed Ukraine, the Chagos Islands deal and a future UK-US trade deal during their private meetings in Washington.

The i newspaper hails “charmer Starmer” and says a “jovial” president showered praise on the prime minister. The pair discussed Ukraine, the Chagos Islands deal and a future UK-US trade deal during their private meetings in Washington.

Starmer’s so-called Trump card was handing the president a letter from King Charles III inviting him for a state visit. Trump was afforded the honour during his first term under the late Queen Elizabeth II but a second under another monarch has been described as “unprecedented”.

Daily Mirror front page — Starmer’s so-called Trump card was handing the president a letter from King Charles III inviting him for a state visit. Trump was afforded the honour during his first term under the late Queen Elizabeth II but a second under another monarch has been described as “unprecedented”.

A “love-in” is how the Sun describes the Trump-Starmer meeting. Its front page carries a picture of the moment Starmer handed him the King’s personal invitation in full view of the cameras, which the paper says left the president “thrilled”.

The Sun newspaper — A “love-in” is how the Sun describes the Trump-Starmer meeting. Its front page carries a picture of the moment Starmer handed him the King’s personal invitation in full view of the cameras, which the paper says left the president “thrilled”.

The Financial Times leads on the pair’s negotiations over future security arrangements for Ukraine. The paper says Trump dashed Starmer’s hopes for an American “backstop” for any European peacekeeping force, something the prime minister has been pushing for.

Financial Times front page — The Financial Times leads on the pair’s negotiations over future security arrangements for Ukraine. The paper says Trump dashed Starmer’s hopes for an American “backstop” for any European peacekeeping force, something the prime minister has been pushing for.

However, the Guardian has a slightly different take. It focuses on Trump’s remarks that the presence of US workers in Ukraine will, in effect, act as a backstop deterring Russia from invading again. Trump is pushing for American firms to have access to Ukraine’s mineral mining industry.

Guardian front page — However, the Guardian has a slightly different take. It focuses on Trump’s remarks that the presence of US workers in Ukraine will, in effect, act as a backstop deterring Russia from invading again. Trump is pushing for American firms to have access to Ukraine’s mineral mining industry.

The Daily Telegraph leads on Trump backing the UK government over its plans to hand sovereignty of the Chagos Islands – where a UK-US military base is located – to Mauritius, in return for a deal securing the site’s long-term future. British opposition parties have opposed the deal but Trump described its terms as “powerful” and said it “doesn’t sound bad”.

Telegraph front page — The Daily Telegraph leads on Trump backing the UK government over its plans to hand sovereignty of the Chagos Islands – where a UK-US military base is located – to Mauritius, in return for a deal securing the site’s long-term future. British opposition parties have opposed the deal but Trump described its terms as “powerful” and said it “doesn’t sound bad”.

The Times focuses on the trade talks between the pair, with Trump saying negotiations on a “new economic deal” had begun and could be agreed “very quickly”. The paper says that will come as a relief to Starmer, who had feared US tariffs could hamper his government’s attempt to grow the economy.

The Times front page — The Times focuses on the trade talks between the pair, with Trump saying negotiations on a “new economic deal” had begun and could be agreed “very quickly”. The paper says that will come as a relief to Starmer, who had feared US tariffs could hamper his government’s attempt to grow the economy.

Mystery surrounds the death of actor Gene Hackman, who was found dead at his New Mexico home alongside pianist wife Betsy Arakawa. Police say they were not injured but the circumstances are “suspicious enough” to warrant further investigation.

Metro front page — Mystery surrounds the death of actor Gene Hackman, who was found dead at his New Mexico home alongside pianist wife Betsy Arakawa. Police say they were not injured but the circumstances are “suspicious enough” to warrant further investigation.

And finally, the Daily Star leads on the news that the creators of cartoon Peppa Pig have revealed the mother character is having a baby.

Daily Star front page — And finally, the Daily Star leads on the news that the creators of cartoon Peppa Pig have revealed the mother character is having a baby.

Friday’s papers are dominated by Sir Keir Starmer’s meeting with Donald Trump in Washington – where, the Daily Mail says, the two “struck up an unlikely bromance”. The paper’s comment page says there’s reason to believe this “odd couple” could “forge a fruitful partnership”.

The Daily Mirror and the i newspaper called the prime minister “Charmer Starmer”, with the latter describing the meeting as a “diplomatic win”. A “love-in” is the phrase used by the Sun and the Daily Express.

In The Times, columnist Matthew Parris is less complimentary, writing that the president “patronised” Sir Keir and that it must have taken him “a fair amount of self-control not to pat our prime minister on the head”.

The Guardian highlights Trump’s insistence that American workers extracting minerals in Ukraine would deter a future Russian invasion – whereas the Financial Times says the president dashed hopes of US cover should European peacekeepers go to Ukraine.

The Daily Telegraph seizes on Trump’s suggestion that he would back UK plans to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. The paper’s editorial calls the meeting a “missed opportunity”. It says the prime minister had “room to advance Britain’s interests”, but instead “focused on getting his Chagos surrender over the line”.

PA Media Sir Keir Starmer and Donald Trump

The Mirror’s editorial says Sir Keir passed the “Trump Test”. It says the president’s support for the Chagos deal underlines how Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage are “marginalised and powerless”. Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick argues in an article for the Express that handing over the territory would be a “strategic disaster”.

The front page of the Express references the US leader’s hints about a future trade agreement to Brexit. “Trump backs ‘Great Trade Deal’ for Brexit Britain” is its headline. On the inside pages, the paper’s editorial calls it an “unexpected but very welcome announcement” after “Joe Biden refused to discuss an agreement”.

The Sun draws attention to the prime minister’s offer of an unprecedented second state visit, which it refers to as Sir Keir’s “Trump card”. The paper points out that other second term presidents, such as Barack Obama, were only offered tea or lunch at Windsor Castle. The article says the Royal Family’s “soft power diplomacy is seen as an effective way of engaging” Trump.

Many of the papers also carry tributes to actor Gene Hackman, who was found dead at home alongside his wife in unexplained circumstances. The Mirror says he “brought a raw intensity to every character he played”. The Telegraph describes him as one of Hollywood’s “most versatile” actors who balanced “toughness and sensitivity in edgy portrayals of troubled middle age”.