Donald Trump has once again slammed Sir Keir Starmer as “no Winston Churchill” in another savage takedown of the Prime Minister. The US President said he is “disappointed” by Starmer over his initial refusal to send aircraft carriers to the Middle East.

Speaking at the Oval Office on Tuesday (March 17), Trump told reporters he has rejected Starmer’s offer to send British aircraft carriers to help the US war effort against Iran. He said he was unhappy with the UK’s stance on the ongoing conflict, with Britain reportedly refusing to send warships to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The channel, which sees around a fifth of the world’s global oil supplies pass through, has been kept shut by Iranian missile and drone strikes.

As reported by Sky News, Trump told reporters: “Unfortunately Keir is no Winston Churchill.” He added: “Well, he hasn’t been supportive, and I think it’s a big mistake.

“You know, they make a lot of money on trade with the United States. I went out of my way [to make a trade deal]. We made a good deal for them and, frankly, probably wasn’t appreciated.”

After being asked about his relationship with the UK, the president said it was “always the best until Keir came along”. However, Trump insisted that Starmer is a “very nice man with a beautiful family”.

He said he was “disappointed because Keir was willing to send two aircraft carriers after we won because essentially, there’s no threat… [and we] said, no, no, we want things sent before the war, not after the war is won.”

He continued: “After we obliterated them [Iran] and destroyed their military and it became a much safer zone, he said ‘we’re going to send over two aircraft carriers’,” Trump explained. I said ‘I don’t want them anymore, I don’t want them after we win’.”

Trump said later: “I just said ‘you don’t have to send me aircraft carriers, send me a couple of minesweepers, we don’t need your aircraft carriers’, but even the aircraft carriers, he would only send them after we essentially won. He’s sending them when there are no planes left, when the missiles are down to 8%.”

Starmer has insisted that the UK would not get dragged into a “wider war” while France and Germany have also dismissed the idea of taking an active role. The prime minister recently stressed the importance of remaining focus on Russia’s war with Ukraine.