President Donald Trump applauded British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday for taking a firm stance on illegal immigration, calling his efforts to stop migrant boats crossing the English Channel a “fantastic thing.”
Trump made the comments during a meeting with Starmer and his wife Victoria at his Turnberry golf resort in Scotland, where he praised the Labour leader’s approach to border enforcement.
“Immigration is a huge issue,” Trump told reporters. “You don’t know who these people are, where they’re coming from. Some are coming straight from prisons. We had zero illegal crossings last month—zero. That’s how it should be. You’re not just doing a good job, you’re doing a fantastic thing.”
Trump added that if the migrant boats are “loaded with bad people—and they usually are,” then stopping them is essential. “Other countries don’t send their best,” he said. “They send the ones they don’t want. You’ve taken a strong stance, and I commend you for it.”
Starmer Defends Deportations Amid Pressure at Home
Prime Minister Starmer confirmed his government has deported roughly 35,000 individuals since taking office last July. “We’re very pleased that we’re returning people who have no right to be here,” Starmer said.
“That’s great,” Trump replied. “I love this country. My mother was born in Scotland. You’ve got to protect it.”
Starmer’s crackdown comes as small boat crossings into the UK have surged more than 50% since the beginning of the year, according to the British Home Office. Facing growing domestic pressure, Starmer is working to deliver on campaign promises to drastically reduce illegal migration.
Trump: ‘You’re Not Going to Have Europe Anymore’
Trump warned that mass migration has changed Europe dramatically over the last decade. “If they don’t get it under control, you’re not going to have Europe as you know it. It’s a magnificent part of the world—you cannot let people ruin it.”
He continued, “You’ve got murderers, drug dealers, and others being sent to us. You’ve got to stop them. I hear you’ve taken a very strong stand, and that’s imperative.”
New Trade Deal and Anti-Smuggling Measures
Trump’s meeting with Starmer comes shortly after announcing a new trade framework with the European Union. While unrelated to immigration, the deal reflects a broader effort to exert U.S. economic pressure across the continent.
Meanwhile, Starmer recently unveiled the “world’s first” sanctions regime targeting human smuggling networks. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the measures will freeze assets, ban offenders from traveling to Britain, and disrupt the financing behind illegal crossings.
Earlier this month, Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron jointly introduced a “one in, one out” pilot program to reduce small boat arrivals. Under the agreement, the UK can return illegal arrivals to France while accepting an equal number of vetted asylum-seekers.
A Shift from Rwanda to Border Security Command
Starmer also scrapped the former Conservative government’s Rwanda deportation plan, replacing it with a new UK Border Security Command. Led by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, the agency focuses on intelligence, enforcement, and targeting smuggling operations.
Despite criticism from some on the left, Starmer has stuck to his hardline position. Trump’s public praise will likely bolster the UK leader’s credibility with voters demanding stronger immigration controls.
“Stopping the boats is the right thing to do,” Trump said. “And you’re doing it.”
