U.S. President Donald Trump said Keir Starmer “will resign” as British prime minister, jumping into the U.K.’s political crisis as Labour MPs brace for a possible change at the top of government as soon as Monday.
In a Truth Social post on Sunday, Trump said Starmer had “failed badly” on two issues: immigration and energy, before adding: “I wish him well!”
Trump singled out North Sea oil — a frequent dividing line between Trump and European center-left leaders — and wrote that Britain should “OPEN NORTH SEA OIL.”
The intervention by Trump came amid intensifying speculation in Westminster that Starmer could announce a departure plan as soon as Monday. One of his senior Cabinet allies, Business Secretary Peter Kyle, pointedly declined to rule out such a move Sunday morning, saying the prime minister was weighing the “political realities and challenges” that he faces.
Asked on the BBC whether Starmer would fight on, Kyle said: “These are decisions for Keir to make. He’s … taking the time to think through what the political realities are today, compared to last week, the week before.”
Kyle’s comments followed a report in the Observer that Starmer would make a “clear statement” on his future after concluding his position was no longer tenable. The Guardian also reported that Starmer is expected to announce Monday that he will step down after pressure from Labour MPs to make way for Andy Burnham to become Labour leader.
Starmer’s troubles have been building for months, driven by poor polling, Labour unrest and complaints from MPs that the government has failed to recover momentum since its 2024 landslide.
The issues Trump highlighted have also dogged the prime minister. Labour has faced pressure over migration and defense spending, while its North Sea oil stance has drawn attacks from critics who argue it weakens Britain’s energy security.
For Starmer, the timing of Trump’s intervention was unwelcome.
His premiership, launched on a promise of stability after years of Conservative turbulence, is now the subject of open succession chatter — with Burnham increasingly treated in Westminster as the figure most likely to steady the party if Starmer goes.
