Trump tells Starmer UK may get 'great' trade deal following White House talks

The papers are in after Sir Keir Starmer's wide-ranging meeting with Donald Trump at the White House - how have they reacted?

We'll start with the Daily Mail, which runs with the headline: "What an unlikely bromance!"

To the Daily Express now, which focuses on Trump's backing for a "great trade deal" for the UK.

The Independent leads with Starmer's "royal Trump card" after he gave the US president a letter from the King inviting him to an historic second state visit.

The Sun also leads on that letter, with the headline: "Special delivery".

The i paper says "charmer Starmer" has pulled off a diplomatic win in his White House meeting with Trump.

Meanwhile, the Financial Times strikes a different tone, saying Trump "dashes hopes" over US cover for Europe peacekeepers in Ukraine.

Sir Keir Starmer and Donald Trump held a news conference following their talks at the White House.

It covered a range of topics, from Ukraine, to Chagos, to economic ties - and much more in between.

Catch up on the highlights below...

We've now had some reaction to today's events in Washington DC from the Tory leader, Kemi Badenoch.

She seemed to be trying to take a bit of credit for some of the events this week - namely increasing defence spending to 2.5% of GDP on defence, visiting Donald Trump, and restarting negotiations with the US on a trade deal.

She said in a post on X: "These are positive outcomes. BUT…

"The president's words on the Chagos deal aren't a guarantee it serves *our* national interest—or UK taxpayers.

"We haven't seen the final terms of a deal, but we mustn't foot the bill for surrendering territory the UK already holds."

She is referencing Trump saying in the Oval Office: "We're going to have some discussions about that very soon, and I have a feeling it's going to work out very well.

"I think we'll be inclined to go along with your country."

So despite the US president making positive noises about Sir Keir Starmer's deal, it appears the official opposition remains very much unconvinced.

Our political editor Beth Rigby has just been speaking to us live from the White House after attending the press conference held by Sir Keir Starmer and Donald Trump.

She told The World With Yalda Hakim: "Going into this bilateral summit, those around Starmer were stressing that these guys genuinely got on well, they liked each, and that Keir Starmer could say things to Donald Trump in private and not get his head blown off.

"I think what we saw today was a genuine rapport between the two men, and Donald Trump seems amenable to Keir Starmer."

Beth went on to point out that both men are from opposite political traditions, but "they seem to get on, and with Trump, it's all about relationships".

Plenty to chew over with European leaders

On how the visit went overall, Beth said: "I think that Number 10 [Downing Street] will have thought that this could not have gone better."

One key element for the UK side was convincing Trump to give security guarantees for Ukraine in any kind of peace deal with Russia, but "he didn't really bite" on that topic, she said.

Nonetheless, Starmer will have plenty to dicsuss with European leaders at the big London summit on Sunday.

'A huge win for the PM'

Beth went on to say that "the big story that emerged out of this is trade, for sure".

She noted that Trump has been threatening allies around the world with tariffs, and said: "He didn't completely rule out tariffs on the UK, but actually, he said, 'what I want to do is a trade deal where maybe this could be avoided'.

"That is a huge win for a prime minister that did not necessarily think he would come out with that, and also for a UK government that really needs to strengthen trade ties with the US because they're looking for economic growth."

She concluded: "Whether they can agree on things like food standards, NHS [access] - not so clear. But Keir Starmer will with how this played out today."

Donald Trump's comments suggesting he will try to get as much land back as possible for Ukraine will be viewed strongly in Kyiv ahead of the US president's meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy tomorrow, our security and defence editor Deborah Haynes says.

Speaking on The World with Yalda Hakim, Haynes explains Ukraine needs to have the US on its side, and tomorrow's meeting with Trump is a "big win".

But while meeting Sir Keir Starmer, Trump also said a deal on Ukraine could either happen quickly or may not happen at all - although he did repeat that he believes Vladimir Putin would "be good to his word" if a deal were agreed.

Haynes explains Ukrainians will be wanting "much more clarity" on what a US backstop is going to look like - earlier, Trump said "putting security into Ukraine is the easy part, the deal is the hard part".

On his joke as to whether the UK could take on Russia by itself, Haynes says there is a very "serious point" to make - the Brits do need the Americans for defence.

"I can't believe I said that."

Donald Trump there, coming round to how the rest of us felt when he called Volodymyr Zelenskyy a "dictator".

He was asked about that infamous comment again while speaking with Keir Starmer in the Oval Office, with Ukraine very much on the agenda.

Zelenskyy himself is at the White House on Friday.

"Did I say that?" said Trump to the journalist who asked about it.

"I can't believe I said that. Next question."

We're getting some domestic reaction to Sir Keir Starmer's news conference with Donald Trump.

The deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, Daisy Cooper, said in a statement: "It is more important than ever that the prime minister takes his momentum from the Trump trip into the European summit this weekend.

"The age of Europe relying on the United States is over: if we want to stop Putin from taking Ukraine, Europe will have to do it."

Cooper is referring to the summit of European leaders Starmer is hosting on Sunday following a week of intense diplomacy with the US about Ukraine.

By Rhiannon Mills, royal correspondent

The last thing the King would have been expecting tonight is for his letter to be flashed at the gathered press pack.

So, wow, was my first thought, as we've been given an unprecedented insight into that slightly mysterious world of soft diplomacy (see what we can read of the letter here).

A letter that couldn't feel more personal

We don't usually get to see the invitations issued for state visits - we're always told that the monarch only sends them on the advice of the foreign office to countries we want to really impress.

But the tone of this letter, signed "Yours most sincerely", couldn't feel more personal - with, it seems, the offer from King Charles of not one but two visits.

First, the more informal. We know Donald Trump loves Scotland, so what could be better than the suggestion that he pops into Balmoral for a look around.

And Dumfries House? Well that part of the letter is even more fascinating.

Is Trump getting special treatment?

It's where the King's charitable foundation is based, you could say it's a living breathing example of his views on sustainability, the environment, and where he offers training opportunities for young people.

Is he hoping the president might learn a thing or two, or maybe make a donation?

But alongside the suggestion he just pops in when he's next in Scotland, the real prize, of course, is the promise of a second official state visit.

These visits are always organised with special adjustments and experiences that will really appeal to the visiting guests, but I've never got the impression that the visitor has been so actively involved in picking the palace or castle of their choice, as this letter suggests is on offer.

Delivered with a flourish

One place that will be off the cards is Buckingham Palace as the state rooms are being refurbished.

Just like his first state visit, his second will be controversial, but wherever it's held it will again provide a setting for diplomatic discussions that no other country could possibly offer the American president.

No wonder that letter was produced with such a flourish from Keir Starmer's inside pocket.

Keir Starmer's first trip to the Trump White House appears to have gone down very well with the president, says US correspondent Mark Stone.

The fact the news conference ended with Trump talking about not just a peace deal in Ukraine, but a US-UK trade deal, is "something the British will carry home with them with big smiles on their faces".

Key to Starmer's success was "talking in Trump's language", Mark says: "Forceful and forthright, but in a pretty neat way."

"History being on the side of the peacemaker rather than the aggressor" was one line that stood out, "reminding Trump he likes to be seen as a winner" ahead of his talks with Ukraine's Zelenskyy tomorrow.

"In a very American way, Starmer said it's not the taking part that counts, it's the winning - he borrowed that phrase to appeal to Trump and I think that went down very well."

Another wide-ranging news conference with Donald Trump and Sir Keir Starmer has just concluded.

Scroll down to read all the key moments - and stay tuned for analysis from our correspondents.