A Downing Street spokesperson revealed Keir Starmer had spoken to President Trump this evening – who also sent a message to King Charles after he was admitted to hospital on Thursday
Donald Trump has sent his well wishes to King Charles after the monarch was hospitalised amid major UK-US talks on an economic prosperity deal. It came as the US President and Prime Minister Keir Starmer held “productive” talks this evening between their respective teams on a UK-US economic deal, agreeing that these will continue this week.
Their chat began with Trump sending his best wishes to Charles, 76, who was admitted to hospital on Thursday suffering from temporary side effects relating to his ongoing treatment for cancer. The monarch, who has been receiving weekly hospital treatment since his diagnosis last February, was seen leaving London yesterday to spend the weekend resting at his Highgrove estate in Gloucestershire, it is understood.
A Downing Street spokesperson said: “The Prime Minister spoke to President Trump this evening. The President opened by wishing His Majesty the King best wishes and good health.
“They discussed the productive negotiations between their respective teams on a UK-US economic prosperity deal, agreeing that these will continue at pace this week. Discussing Ukraine, the Prime Minister updated the President on the productive discussions at the meeting of the Coalition of Willing in Paris this week. The leaders agreed on the need to keep up the collective pressure on Putin. They agreed to stay in touch in the coming days.”
No10 is scrambling to draw up an exemption to Trump’s plan to impose tariffs on US imports from April 2, labelled by the President as “liberation day”.
Earlier this week, Trump announced a new 25% tariff on all imported cars to the US – a move set to threaten British luxury car makers like Rolls-Royce, Jaguar Land Rover. The levy on cars will come along with a series of tariffs set to come into effect on Wednesday.
Speaking on Sky News on Sunday, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “Obviously we’re very disappointed at the US decision to introduce tariffs, including around auto and steel and so on. The Chancellor has said there are continuing intense discussions with the US.”
Asked whether the UK government would reach a deal with Washington by Wednesday, she replied: “We’ll keep discussion underway. But we’ll also keep all options on the table as well and the UK government will always be operating in the national interest for the UK as well.”
She also said “no option is off the table” in the government’s response to Donald Trump’s threatened tariffs, suggesting it was possible the UK coud hit back with tit-for-tat measures. Asked whether the UK will also retaliate, Ms Cooper said: “The Prime Minister has said is no option is off the table. We will continue to approach this in the UK national interest.” But she added that talks were still ongoing to reach a deal.
