Show strength and offer a win: experts’ tips for Starmer on dealing with Trump Veterans of May and Johnson governments share lessons from their experiences with unpredictable US president.
The lesson for Starmer, this official said, was that “the normal rules of engagement don’t apply” because the carefully prepared notes for calls and meetings with Trump are generally thrown out the window as soon as he enters the room.
Trump perceived her as weak after she lost the Conservatives’ majority in the 2017 general election, and her stilted demeanour was the polar opposite of Trump’s bombastic style.
Keir Starmer is anxious to maintain his rapport with the US president, and as a result his criticism of Trump’s plan to “take over” Gaza and force Palestinians into neighbouring countries has been muted.
And while Trump in 2025 is a different proposition to Trump in 2017, they believe there are lessons that can be drawn from their experiences.
