Relations between the United States and the United Kingdom have been significantly strained following criticisms from former US President Donald Trump regarding Sir Keir Starmer's perceived lack of support for the US's conflict with Iran. Trump launched an extraordinary attack on the British Prime Minister, stating that the US no longer needed British aircraft carriers in the Middle East and that he would "remember" the lack of support. This came as the UK was reportedly preparing to deploy HMS Prince of Wales, one of its two aircraft carriers, to the region amidst escalating conflict with Iran and mounting criticism over Britain's military response.

Writing on Truth Social, Trump sarcastically commented on the UK's consideration of sending carriers, asserting, "That's OK, Prime Minister Starmer, we don't need them any longer - But we will remember. We don't need people that join Wars after we've already won!" This sentiment was echoed by former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair, who also rebuked Starmer for not backing America from the outset. The deployment of HMS Prince of Wales, a £3 billion warship carrying F-35 fighter jets, alongside escort vessels and a submarine, was reportedly being accelerated, though the Ministry of Defence later clarified that while preparedness was increasing, no deployment decisions had been finalized.

Trump had previously criticized Sir Keir as "no Winston Churchill" for initially denying permission for US strikes from the joint US-UK Diego Garcia base. He expressed unhappiness and accused the PM of being "very, very uncooperative." Despite these tensions, Sir Keir has attempted to downplay the rift, emphasizing the enduring "special relationship" and ongoing intelligence sharing. He urged Trump to "de-escalate" the crisis and negotiate with Iran's leadership, while also acknowledging that the conflict's fallout could impact energy bills, the cost of living, and potentially trigger a new refugee crisis.

The Prime Minister faced internal and external pressure over his approach. Reports suggested that while Starmer initially wanted to allow "defensive" US missions from British bases, he was blocked by senior ministers like Ed Miliband who questioned the political implications of a positive US relationship for the Labour Party. Sir Keir made a partial U-turn, eventually allowing US jets to use British bases for the "limited" objective of destroying Iranian missile launchers and stockpiles, acknowledging that an estimated 300,000 British nationals in the Gulf region were "at risk." However, he ruled out participating in US-led attempts at "regime change from the skies," emphasizing the need for lawful basis and a viable plan for any military action.

Trump further intensified his criticism, telling the New York Post that Starmer's performance was "very disappointing" and that he took "far too long" to lift the ban on US forces. He stated that Starmer had "not been helpful" and had imperiled the special relationship, expressing sadness that US-UK relations were "not like it used to be." Trump even speculated that Starmer's decisions could be influenced by a desire to pander to Muslim voters. The US President also extended his criticism to UK domestic policies, lambasting its energy and immigration strategies, urging Starmer to "open up the North Sea" and lamenting the presence of "windmills all over the place."

The UK also faced criticism from allies, with Cyprus seeking military support from France, Italy, and Spain after RAF Akrotiri on the island was hit by an Iranian drone, highlighting perceived British unpreparedness. Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy and Chief of the Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton have signaled that the UK could consider more proactive strikes and that campaigns "evolve over time." Meanwhile, the Iranian ambassador to the UK warned Britain to be "very careful" about deeper involvement. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch accused Starmer of being "too scared to make foreign interventions," asserting that the UK was already "in this war whether Keir Starmer likes it or not." Despite the criticism, Starmer has maintained that his government is focused on protecting British people and upholding national interests.