EGYPT – Keir Starmer is licking his wounds after his efforts to bask in Donald Trump’s Gaza peace deal humiliatingly backfired. The prime minister (PM) was accused of piggybacking on the breakthrough after he headed to Egypt for a signing ceremony yesterday.
Sir Keir and other world leaders were left kicking their heels in Sharm el-Sheikh for several hours, as the president took accolades and met freed Hamas hostages in Israel.
Once Trump arrived, the premier then stood fidgeting mutely behind him as he delivered a long speech – during which he noted that he did not like some of the leaders present and remarked on the ‘beauty’ of Italian PM Giorgia Meloni.
At one point, Trump summoned the PM of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, to the podium and urged him to repeat the lavish praise he had showered on the president earlier.
Trump ran through the countries present alphabetically, meaning that Paraguay and Norway both received shout-outs from the commander-in-chief first.
Sir Keir thought his moment had come when the president finally asked “where is the United Kingdom.”
He awkwardly raised his arm and quipped, ‘behind you as usual’, before striding forward a few paces to shake Trump’s hand.
“Where is the United Kingdom? Come here,” Trump said, as a grinning PM walked up to him, seemingly ready to speak at the podium.
“Is everything going good?” Trump asked Sir Keir, who replied, “Very good”.
“It’s very nice that you’re here,” the president said.
However, Sir Keir was left in limbo as rather than showing him to the podium to speak, Trump merely turned his back and continued his own address.
The PM, lips pursed, had no other option but to trudge back to his place in the parade of leaders.
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