Keir Starmer hopes to visit Donald Trump in America within a month of the new US President taking office
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SIR Keir Starmer hopes to visit Donald Trump in America within weeks of the US President moving into the White House. And the PM wants to “roll out the red carpet” with an invite for Mr Trump to come to Britain for a state visit as soon as possible.
![[Donald Trump is expected to get a state visit invite to Britain, but PM Keir Starmer is hoping to visit him in the US first]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2019-prince-wales-greeted-us-917284684_a8f866.jpg?strip=all&w=883)
The Sun on Sunday understands that No10 has not started discussing specific state visit dates with the Palace yet. But they are keen to treat the new President to a full bells and whistles trip hosted by the Royals as soon as possible. This could end up slipping into 2026 if the schedules of King Charles and Mr Trump end up clashing.
![[Keir Starmer on the phone to President-elect Trump. He is planning to launch a Trump charm offensive after the inauguration in January]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2024-london-united-kingdom-prime-947078927.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
It would make Mr Trump the first elected politician in modern history to be hosted for two state visits to the UK. A senior government source said: “We are keen to roll out the red carpet.”. Mr Trump and his wife Melania were hosted by the late Queen for a state visit in 2019. That invite was made by then Prime Minister Theresa May in 2017.
The Trumps had previously joined the then Queen for tea at Windsor castle in July 2018. The Labour government is facing a potentially tricky relationship with the Trump administration. Elon Musk has launched a series of attacks on Sir Keir and his government, and about half the current Cabinet publicly criticised Mr Trump when he was last in the White House.
However, the Starmer administration is determined to mend bridges. Sir Keir had dinner with Mr Trump in September - in what was seen as a major diplomatic coup. Peter Mandelson has been appointed Britain’s new ambassador to Washington to steer the charm offensive.
