DONALD TRUMP "sad to see" US-UK relationship ‘not like it used to be’ says STARMER not helpful during critical moment.

Wednesday, March, 4 2026 - Tensions appear to be rising between the United States and the United Kingdom after President Donald Trump publicly criticized British Prime Minister Keir Starmer over his handling of the recent US-Israeli military action against Iran.

Speaking in an interview with The Sun, Trump said he was “sad to see” the longstanding US-UK relationship weaken, describing Starmer as “not helpful” during a critical moment. He added that ties between the two allies are “not like they used to be.”

The disagreement follows US-Israeli strikes targeting Iranian missile launch sites and storage facilities. While Starmer eventually granted permission for the US to use British military bases for what he described as a “specific and limited defensive purpose,” he emphasized that the UK would not take part in direct offensive operations against the Iranian government.

In a separate interview with The Telegraph, Trump said Starmer “took far too long” to approve the use of British bases. He expressed disappointment that the British leader initially blocked access, suggesting the hesitation was due to concerns about the legality of the operation.

Responding before the UK Parliament, Starmer defended his stance, saying it was his responsibility to act in Britain’s national interest. He maintained that the UK’s decision not to participate in the “initial” strikes was deliberate and carefully considered, despite Trump’s public disapproval.

In his latest remarks, Trump reiterated that while the US remains a “very dominant power,” he believes Starmer should have offered stronger support. The exchange highlights growing diplomatic friction between two nations traditionally regarded as close allies, particularly as tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate.

Trump said Starmer had “not been helpful”, adding: “I never thought I’d see that. I never thought I’d see 
that from the UK. We love the UK.”

 “It’s just a much different kind of relationship… It’s very sad to see that the relationship is obviously not what it was,” he said in the telephone interview.

Government minister Darren Jones defended Starmer’s decision to only get involved in military action where there was a “legal basis” and a “clear plan” that was in the UK’s own national interest.

“That’s why we were not involved in the initial strikes in Iran,” he said.

“But it is also why we’ve consented to American air forces using our air bases and for British jets to be in the sky in order to defend British citizens who are currently in the region,” he added.

He said two UK bases , one in Gloucestershire in western England and the UK-US base on Diego Garcia island in the Indian Ocean , had now been cleared for use by the Americans.

Starmer’s Downing Street office said on Monday he took the decision after Iran fired missiles over the weekend that put British interests and people “at risk”.

“We all remember the mistakes of Iraq, and we have learnt those lessons,” Starmer said later in parliament.