Starmer, despite leading a party whose activists mostly loathe Trump and everything he represents, has managed to establish a warm relationship with the president and today will give some clues as to what extent he can sustain that, and protect the UK from the tariff warfare that Trump is threatening to unleash on the EU.
Keir Starmer also spoke at the reception at the ambassador’s residence last night, and he used his speech to suggest that the Labour government and the Trump administration have more in common than people might assume.
Pippa Crerar, the Guardian’s political editor, was on the plane and, as she reports, Starmer said he wants Trump to agree that, in the event of a peace settlement in Ukraine, the US will offer security guarantees that will make it durable.
Around 5.15pm (UK time): Keir Starmer is due to arrive at the White House for his meeting with President Trump.
Keir Starmer is in Washington where later today he will have his first meeting with President Trump since the inauguration.
