United States President Donald Trump has declared that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will resign from office, citing what he described as the Labour leader’s failures on immigration and energy policy.
Trump’s comments come as a deepening leadership crisis grips the United Kingdom, even before Starmer has made any official announcement regarding his future.
Trump posted his assessment on his Truth Social network on Sunday, writing: “Keir Starmer will resign as Prime Minister of The United Kingdom. He failed badly on two very important subjects, IMMIGRATION AND ENERGY (OPEN NORTH SEA OIL!). I wish him well!”
Broadcaster Piers Morgan was among those who noted that Trump appeared to announce Starmer’s resignation before Starmer had confirmed it himself. Morgan described the development as “the final humiliation.”
Starmer has publicly vowed to remain in office, insisting he would fight any leadership challenge.
However, expectations are growing within Labour circles that he could announce a timetable for his departure as early as Monday, the day Andy Burnham is due to be sworn in as a lawmaker in the House of Commons after winning a special election last week.
Business Secretary Peter Kyle said on Sunday that Starmer was “making time to reflect on the political realities, challenges and opportunities” facing him.
Senior Labour peer Lord Charlie Falconer also said the Prime Minister had “absolutely no authority” left and called for an agreed transition process between Starmer and Burnham.
More than 95 Labour MPs had, by mid-May, called on Starmer to resign or set out a timetable for his departure.
One cabinet minister, Health Secretary Wes Streeting, alongside four junior ministers, had already resigned.
In June, the crisis deepened further following disputes over defence spending that resulted in three resignations from the Ministry of Defence, including Defence Secretary John Healey.
Starmer’s net approval rating, which began slightly positive upon taking office, had fallen to an average of negative 46 per cent by November 2025.
Opinion polls have ranked him among Britain’s most unpopular prime ministers and drawn comparisons with former Prime Minister Liz Truss, the shortest serving prime minister in British history.
Trump has repeatedly urged the British government to reverse its freeze on issuing new oil and gas exploration licences in the North Sea.
He has also criticised the UK’s wind farms, making Starmer’s energy policies a recurring point of friction between the two leaders.
Relations between the two men have been strained for months.
In March, Trump said Starmer had not been sufficiently supportive of United States efforts in Iran, adding: “Unfortunately, Keir is not Winston Churchill.”
Should Starmer quit, he would become the sixth British prime minister to leave office in the past 10 years.
Burnham, who recently won a parliamentary by-election, is widely regarded within Labour as the frontrunner to succeed him, although Streeting has also indicated a willingness to contest the leadership.
(The Whistler)