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Sir Keir Starmer and formerPresident Donald Trump conducted a shared press conference following the US president’s official trip to the UK.

The briefing, which lasted nearly an hour at the PM’s country residence Chequers, touched on a wide range of topics from international relations to domestic policies.

Trump expressed affection toward the UK and largely avoided contentious matters raised during the question session.

Here are the key points from their appearance:

1. Recognition of Palestine Discussed with Caution

The UK’s impending recognition of Palestinian statehood posed a possible point of friction, considering Trump’s previous remarks that it could benefit Hamas.

When questioned point-blank about the UK’s stance, Trump noted he had a “disagreement” with Starmer, adding it was one of only a “few” between them.

Starmer stressed that the timing of the UK’s move was had nothing to Trump’s visit and was part of a wider peace plan for the Middle East.

He added that Hamas, designated a terrorist group in the UK, could have “no part” in any prospective Palestinian state.

Trump responded favorably, reaching over to pat Starmer on the back in approval.

2. Illegal Migration and Armed Forces Proposals

Trump also commented on the issue of illegal migration, which has been a significant challenge for Starmer’s government.

The US president did not hesitate, proposing that Starmer look into using the military and warning that illegal migration “destroys countries from within.”

Trump referenced his own immigration policies and confirmed the two had talked about the matter privately.

He said, “I think your circumstances are very similar. You have people coming in, and I told the prime minister I would stop it—by any means necessary.”

Starmer highlighted that the first flight under a deal with France had taken off, calling it an “important step” in addressing the small boats crisis.

3. Strong Position on the Ukrainian Conflict

The two leaders appeared aligned in their condemnation of Russia’s aggression in Ukraine.

Starmer denounced recent Russian missile strikes in Kyiv, which damaged the British Council building, and stated that Putin’s actions were not those of someone seeking peace.

Trump said he felt Putin had “disappointed me,” adding he had thought the Russia-Ukraine war would be easier to settle.

He added, however, that he did not feel sorry about hosting a meeting with Putin and felt an “obligation” to help end the war due to the devastating loss of life.

4. Freedom of Expression Topic Addressed with Tact

Another delicate subject was free speech, especially after comments from Trump’s vice-president criticizing European democracies.

When pressed if he shared with those views, Trump chose not to comment and moved on to the next question.

p>Starmer vowed the UK would defend free speech “vigorously and fiercely,” calling it a core value.

But he clarified that free speech must be balanced against the need to protect vulnerable groups, such as children from online exploiters.

5. Mandelson-Epstein Situation Mentioned

The recently revealed firing of Lord Mandelson as UK ambassador to the US, due to his past ties with Jeffrey Epstein, hung over the visit.

When questioned if he had empathy for Mandelson, Trump replied, “I don’t know him, actually,” and indicated Starmer was better positioned to speak on the matter.

Starmer restated that he had acted based on recent information about Mandelson’s links to Epstein.