President Donald Trump affirmed on Thursday that he had a “disagreement” with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the issue of recognizing a Palestinian state, noting that it was one of the few points where the two leaders felt differently.
“We have to remember October 7, one of the worst, most violent days in the history of the world…I want an end,” President Trump said during a press conference in Chequers, an estate in the Buckinghamshire region of England.
Trump continued, “I want the hostages released, and I think it’s going to be okay, but it has been a brutal period of time, but this has been going on for a long time.”
His comments come after PM Starmer previously announced over the summer that the UK would recognize the Palestinian state in September unless Israel agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza and looked at practical two-state solutions, per the BBC.
“Hamas said that they’re going to put the hostages up as bait,” Trump said. “…That’s pretty brutal…we have to remember that. So, I have a disagreement with the prime minister on that score – one of our few disagreements, actually.”
During the press conference, Fox News’ Peter Doocy confronted PM Starmer on his statement about recognizing Palestine as a state.
Doocy asked, “If you feel so strongly about officially recognizing Palestine for statehood, why are you waiting for President Trump to leave the country, why can’t you do it right now? And isn’t there a risk in rewarding Hamas with that?”
PM Starmer replied, “Well, let me be really clear about Hamas. They are a terrorist organization who can have no part of any future government in Palestine.”
In a candid moment, President Trump reached over and patted Starmer on the back, flashing a smile. “That’s good,” President Trump said.
