President Donald Trump reacted Monday to reports that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer had announced his resignation, mixing personal praise with sharp criticism of Starmer's policies, including energy strategy, immigration, crime, and his handling of cooperation with the United States during the Iran conflict, according to remarks reported by Newsweek.
Starmer said he would remain in office in a caretaker capacity until a successor is selected, a standard transitional step in the U.K. when a prime minister steps down.
The reports did not immediately specify a single driving factor behind the resignation announcement, though Starmer has faced sustained political pressure in recent months over economic conditions, immigration policy, and energy strategy.
Trump, speaking in the Oval Office, described Starmer as a "lovely man" and "sort of a friend of mine," while arguing his leadership had been weakened by policy decisions at home and abroad.
Energy, immigration, and crime criticism
Trump said he raised concerns directly with Starmer over Britain's energy policy, particularly its reliance on wind power.
"You're really messing up energy. You have windmills all over the place," Trump said, repeating his longstanding criticism of wind turbines.
He also pointed to immigration and crime as additional weaknesses in Starmer's leadership.
"He's got two problems, energy and immigration … and crime," Trump said.
Iran war cooperation dispute
Trump also criticized Starmer over what he described as limited British support during recent U.S. and Israeli operations involving Iran, arguing that the U.K. was not fully engaged when Washington sought backing.
"Starmer wasn't there, and the people of the U.K. did not like that he wasn't there," Trump said. "Starmer said, 'We will be there as soon as you win.' I said, 'We don't need you when you win.'"
Trump added, "This is not [former Prime Minister] Winston Churchill we're dealing with, that I can tell you."
The comments reflect broader allied divisions over the extent of Western involvement in Iran-related military escalation scenarios, with British officials previously signaling caution about deeper operational participation and instead emphasizing de-escalation, maritime security, and containment of regional spillover risks.
Several European governments have also been described in diplomatic reporting as reluctant to expand direct military involvement in the Iran conflict, with countries including France and Germany among those emphasizing restraint and warning against escalation, particularly amid concerns over energy market shocks, shipping security, and broader NATO alignment pressures.
The hesitation has highlighted continuing fractures within NATO and the European policy consensus over how closely to align with U.S. operational objectives in the Middle East, even as Washington has pressed for stronger coordination on deterrence and protection of maritime routes in the Gulf.