Keir Starmer suggested Donald Trump uses insults as a ‘pressure’ tactic today after the President posted a sketch mocking him as a ‘coward’.
The PM gave an insight into how he approaches Mr Trump’s bewildering communications style as he appeared before MPs.
Sir Keir has been branded ‘no Churchill’ and ‘disappointing’ by the US leader, who has also peppered him with invective about the Chagos ‘surrender’ deal. The jibes have raised questions about the status of the so-called Special Relationship.
Liaison Committee chair Meg Hilliar asked the premier how he handled Mr Trump’s ‘rude comments’ and the sense there were ‘different presidents on different days of the week’.
‘I am utterly focused on what’s in the best interests of our country,’ he said.
‘Notwithstanding the pressure that comes from elsewhere I will remain laser focused on the British national interest.
‘A lot of what is said and done is undoubtedly said and done to put pressure on me, I have no doubt about that. I understand exactly what is going on.’
‘But I am not going to be wavering on this… That has served me well in recent weeks.’
Sir Keir discussed the Iran war and how to reopen the crucial Strait of Hormuz with the US president in a 20-minute call last night.
No10 tried to play down tensions between the pair over the crisis in the Middle East following US-Israeli strikes, insisting the chat was ‘constructive’.
But it is not clear if Mr Trump’s slew of public insults at his Transatlantic partner were mentioned.
Shortly before the conversation, the president spread a toe-curling clip from the British version of ‘Saturday Night Live’ on his Truth Social platform.
The scene from the show – which aired for the first time on Sky this weekend – depicts the PM in No 10 too terrified to pick up the phone to talk to Mr Trump about Iran.
‘What if Donald shouts at me?’ the comedian playing Sir Keir says to his deputy, David Lammy. When ‘Mr Trump’ answers he immediately hangs up in a panic.
‘I just hate conflict so much,’ Sir Keir says, admitting he is ‘out of my depth’.
Despite the jibes from Mr Trump there was hope of a breakthrough as he dramatically announced a five-day ceasefire.
In an all-capitals post on his Truth Social site, the president said ‘productive’ talks had been going on with the regime.
Iran has yet to respond or give any indication whether the crucial Strait of Hormuz will reopen.
Markets staged a breathtaking relief rally, with oil prices dropping below $100 a barrel again.
In the SNL skit, Sir Keir – who has a framed photo of Mr Trump behind him – says: ‘I just want to keep him happy, Lammy. You don’t understand him like I do. I can change him.’
The faux premier later adds: ‘I’ll say anything, I’ll do anything, except take a stand.’
Mr Trump has repeatedly vented fury at Sir Keir’s reluctance to take a bigger role in the US-Israeli war on Iran, branding him ‘disappointing’ and ‘no Churchill’.
He has also called Nato countries – including the UK – ‘cowards’ for not sending warships to the Strait of Hormuz.
Polls have suggested the British public is extremely wary about taking part in the US-Israeli attacks on Iran, which have caused carnage in oil and gas supplies and raised fears of a global recession.
An Opinium survey released over the weekend found that Sir Keir’s personal ratings have improved by 11 points since the start of the strikes, albeit remaining at a dire low.
The UK has given US forces the green light to run ‘defensive’ operations from its military sites, such as Diego Garcia.
On Friday evening, Sir Keir extended that to action aiming to reopen the crucial Strait of Hormuz – amid mounting panic over choked off oil supplies.
However, another clash could be looming, with Government sources making clear the UK has not agreed to facilitate attacks on civilian infrastructure.
Mr Trump has set a deadline of just before midnight for Iran to reopen the Strait ‘fully’, or face ‘obliteration’ of its power plants.
The version of the SNL sketch posted by Mr Trump cuts off before a section where Sir Keir is shown insisting he cannot join America in starting ‘World War 3’.
That part includes the PM leaving Mr Trump a voice note saying: ‘Hi Donald. I’m afraid I can’t go to war with you.
‘But that doesn’t mean we can’t still be chums.’
Sir Keir gives a list of things the UK and US have done together in the past, including D-Day, but says he wants to ‘take a break’ like Rachel and Ross out of sitcom Friends.
The Sky Original show follows NBC’s late-night comedy show with 75-minute long episodes which feature a number of segments, including an opening monologue, topical sketches and a UK version of The Weekend Update.
The US version of Saturday Night Live has been running since 1975 and is responsible for launching the careers of the likes of Tina Fey, Bill Murray and Eddie Murphy.
