US President Donald Trump has claimed that British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will resign, as pressure grows inside the Labour Party over his leadership.
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Trump made the remark on Truth Social, where he criticised Starmer’s record on immigration and energy. His comment came amid reports that the Prime Minister was considering his political future after a difficult period for Labour.
The development has added more tension to the debate over a possible Keir Starmer resignation, although Downing Street had not officially confirmed that the Prime Minister would step down at the time of reporting.
Trump said Starmer had “failed badly” on immigration and energy, while also calling for the UK to open up more North Sea oil production. The US president ended his message by saying he wished Starmer well.
The intervention is unusual because it places a foreign leader directly inside a sensitive moment in British domestic politics. It also comes at a time when Starmer is already facing questions over his authority, Labour’s performance and the future direction of his government.
Keir Starmer resignation pressure grows
Starmer has faced growing pressure from within Labour after Andy Burnham’s victory in the Makerfield by-election. Burnham’s return to Westminster has increased speculation that some Labour figures see him as a possible successor if Starmer leaves office.
Several reports in the UK said senior figures in the Labour Party had urged Starmer to consider his position. Some ministers and MPs are said to favour an orderly transition rather than a long leadership battle that could further damage the party.
Starmer has previously insisted that he would not walk away from the job. However, the latest wave of pressure has raised fresh doubts about whether he can continue to lead the party and the government.
Labour has been under strain over immigration, living costs, public services and its handling of key policy areas. Poor election results have also increased concern among MPs about the party’s direction.
Trump’s criticism focused mainly on immigration and energy. These are two areas where the US president has repeatedly challenged Starmer’s approach.
Read related news: Starmer confirms he will stand in leadership race if triggered
On immigration, Trump has pushed for tougher border controls and has criticised leaders he believes are weak on migration. On energy, he has urged Britain to make greater use of North Sea oil and gas instead of moving too quickly away from fossil fuels.
The two leaders have also disagreed on wider foreign policy issues. Their relationship appeared positive when Trump returned to the White House and the two governments announced a UK-US trade agreement in 2025. But tensions later grew over issues including the Chagos Islands, energy policy and the conflict involving Iran.
Starmer’s government was also reported to have faced criticism from Trump’s pro-tech administration over plans linked to restrictions on social media use for under-16s.
The Prime Minister has tried to present himself as someone who can maintain a working relationship with the US president despite political differences. After the recent G7 summit, Starmer said he and Trump got on well and had spoken during meetings with other world leaders.
But the lack of a formal one-to-one meeting between the two leaders at the summit fuelled further speculation about the state of the relationship.
Trump’s latest statement will likely increase political pressure on Starmer, even though the final decision over his future rests with the Prime Minister and the Labour Party, not Washington.
For Labour, the bigger issue is whether Starmer still has enough support among MPs and party members to continue. If he resigns, the party would have to decide whether to hold a full leadership contest or move quickly behind a single candidate.
Burnham’s name is now central to that debate. His supporters argue that he could reconnect Labour with voters who feel disappointed by the current government. Critics, however, may question whether changing leader would solve the deeper problems facing the party.
The coming days could be decisive. If Starmer chooses to stay, he will need to show that he still has the authority to lead. If he steps down, Britain could face another major change at the top of government.
For now, Trump’s comments have turned the spotlight even more sharply on the Prime Minister’s future and on whether Labour is preparing for life after Starmer.
