Donald Trump on Thursday interrupted Keir Starmer while the British prime minister was responding to a question about the president’s recent attacks on Canada during their joint press conference at the White House.
Starmer was asked whether Trump’s repeated calls for Canada to become the the 51st state were brought up during their meeting and whether King Charles, who is also Canada’s head of state, has expressed concerns on the U.S. president’s rhetoric.
“I think you’re trying to find a divide between us that doesn’t exist. We’re the closest of nations, and we had very good discussions today but we didn’t discuss Canada,” Starmer said before Trump interjected.
“That’s enough,” Trump said.
Meanwhile, on X, formerly Twitter, an account run by the White House derided some users and a Canadian broadcaster who posted clips of the exchange, asserting that Trump’s comment was not directed at Starmer but at the reporter who asked the question.
“Fake News. President Trump cut off the reporter trying to goad the two leaders into division. Stop lying,” the post reads.
Trump also received an invitation from King Charles for a second state visit to the United Kingdom. King Charles has not commented on Trump’s recent attacks on Canada — a stance that is consistent with the monarchy’s politically neutral position on all matters.
Trump has repeatedly said Canada should be absorbed by the United States, referring to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as “Gov. Trudeau.”
Earlier on Thursday, Trump announced he would impose 25% tariffs on Canada starting next week. Trump had previously put the action on hold for “30 days” after the country emphasized its efforts to address some of the issues Trump raised on border security and drugs crossing into the U.S. illegally.
Trump also said he would take similar action against Mexico, and also double the current 10% tariffs on Chinese imports.
Trudeau vowed his country will mount “an immediate and extremely strong response” if Trump moves ahead with his plans.
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The main item on the agenda during Starmer’s trip to Washington was the Ukraine war as the Trump administration’s recent statements and moves have worried European allies that the U.S. president would side with Russia in a potential negotiation to end the conflict, undermining Kyiv and upending decades of U.S. foreign policy.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will be the next foreign leader to visit Trump.