Donald Trump suggested Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer could use the military to stop illegal migration at a news conference marking the end of the US president's second state visit to the UK.
Trump said he discussed migration issues with Sir Keir during a meeting at his country residence Chequers. The US president talked about his policies to secure borders in the US and said the UK faced a similar challenge with migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats.
You have people coming in and I told the prime minister I would stop it, and it doesn't matter if you call out the military, it doesn't matter what means you use, Trump said.
In his remarks, Trump emphasized the detrimental effect of unchecked migration, stating, It destroys countries from within and we're actually now removing a lot of the people that came into our country. Since returning to the White House in January, he has increased deportations of illegal immigrants and tightened border control measures.
During the visit, Trump was hosted at Windsor Castle by King Charles and attended a state banquet before holding political discussions with the prime minister. The two leaders highlighted the 'special relationship' between the UK and US while unveiling a new tech deal aimed at strengthening cooperation in the realms of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.
The press conference also touched on other topics such as Palestinian statehood and the war in Ukraine, showing moments of disagreement, particularly on the UK’s plans to recognize Palestinian statehood. Trump criticized the proposal, asserting his stance against such a recognition, while Adams remarked on the seriousness of his government's approach to illegal migration.
Overall, Trump's visit underscored ongoing discussions about immigration policies, with both leaders projecting a united front in their shared concerns over the issue of illegal migration.
