By Enyichukwu Enemanna
US President Donald Trump said Thursday he disagreed with Prime Minister Keir Starmer over plans by the British government recognise a Palestinian state, after both leaders discussed the war in Gaza on the second full day of Trump’s state visit.
“I have a disagreement with the Prime Minister on that score—one of our few disagreements,” Trump said at a press conference with Starmer at the UK prime minister’s country residence, Chequers.
Starmer had in July announced that Britain would take steps to recognise a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September unless Israel met certain conditions, including reaching a ceasefire in Gaza.
The issue proved to be one of the few sticking points in an otherwise united front put forward by Starmer and Trump during the press conference.
The United States has adamantly rejected the notion of countries recognising a Palestinian state, even as France, Canada, and other Western allies are set to take the step at the United Nations next week.
The leaders also discussed the deteriorating situation in Gaza during their meeting, according to Starmer, who said they were in agreement on “the need for peace and a road map.”
“I want an end. I want the hostages released,” said Trump, calling the war “complex” but avoiding directly answering multiple questions about whether he would urge his ally Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end Israeli bombing in Gaza.
Starmer called the situation in Gaza “intolerable” and stressed the “need to get aid into Gaza at speed.”
He added that recognising Palestinian statehood would be part of a larger “plan for peace,” including ensuring Hamas played no part in its governance, without providing additional details about when formal recognition would come.
UK media reported Thursday that Starmer could finalise plans to recognise a Palestinian state as early as this weekend, ahead of the UN summit.
