Starmer Rejects SNP Calls to Scrap Trump’s State Visit Amid Ukraine Tensions- wna24

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has rejected calls from the Scottish National Party (SNP) to cancel a proposed second state visit for Donald Trump, following the former US president’s tense exchange with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House.

The dispute erupted after Trump accused Zelenskyy of “gambling with World War Three” in what was described as a heated confrontation. Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney called the exchange “deeply troubling” and suggested that the state visit could not proceed unless Trump demonstrated full commitment to supporting Ukraine.

However, Starmer brushed off the criticism, accusing the SNP of “ramping up the rhetoric” and insisting that his focus remained on diplomatic efforts to secure peace in Europe.

Several SNP leaders have openly criticized Starmer’s approach. Stephen Flynn, the party’s Westminster leader, urged the prime minister to “get back up off his knees and revoke that offer of a state visit.” SNP foreign affairs spokesperson Stephen Gethins also accused Starmer of staying silent on Trump’s remarks, calling it “disappointing.”

Despite these calls, Starmer remained firm, saying he would not be “diverted” by political posturing. “I’ve seen people ramping up the rhetoric and taking to Twitter and saying what they would do – good for them, I’m not that interested in that,” he said during an interview with the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg program.

Instead, he emphasized his commitment to diplomacy, adding, “I’m interested in the practical steps, the bridge-building I can do, and the relationships I can mend to take us toward lasting peace in Europe.”

During his visit to the United States, Starmer delivered a letter from King Charles III to Trump, extending an invitation for an initial meeting in Scotland, where Trump owns two golf courses, to discuss the logistics of a potential state visit.

Typically, second-term US presidents are not granted state visits but are instead invited for informal engagements, such as tea or lunch with the monarch at Windsor Castle. However, King Charles’ offer marks a departure from this tradition, signaling an effort to maintain strong UK-US relations despite recent tensions.

For now, despite the political uproar, Starmer appears determined to keep diplomatic channels open, balancing the UK’s relationship with the US while maintaining support for Ukraine.