Many in the American media like to highlight poll numbers that make President Donald Trump look unpopular, but he took the opportunity this weekend to highlight what an unpopular politician actually looks like.
British Prime Minister Kier Starmer has been on the receiving end of criticism on all fronts throughout his term thus far, and the US president thinks the pressure will soon prove to be too much.
As The Hill reported:
“Keir Starmer will resign as Prime Minister of The United Kingdom. He failed badly on two very important subjects- IMMIGRATION AND ENERGY (OPEN NORTH SEA OIL!). I wish him well!” Trump said Sunday morning, referencing the U.K.’s refusal to drill for oil in the North Sea.
ADVERTISEMENTThe BBC reported Sunday that there are signals that Starmer will announce plans to leave his role as soon as Monday. Multiple people with links to the government told the outlet that they believed Starmer may unveil a timeline for his exit.
Trump’s post comes amid questions about Starmer’s political future. The prime minister is confronting a possible challenge from fellow Labour Party member Andy Burnham, according to The Associated Press. He could also choose to step aside.
Although the U.K. leader has pledged to continue on as prime minister, some Labour Party members have signaled he should step aside, the outlet reported.
Starmer speculation has continued to mount on social media:
Weak men like Starmer, Carney, Macron, and the Aussie guy, are terrible leaders. They betray their own people and weaken the country they work for.
Strong leaders are needed to strengthen their country, and to keep bad men in line.
— 😁 Relaxing Blonde (@relaxingblonde) June 21, 2026
uk politics are in the absolute trenches right now if trump is calling your resignation before you even announce it
— Merlin (@MerlinOnWeb3) June 21, 2026
Trump dropping the news before Starmer can even draft the speech is peak alpha behavior
Its actually very humiliating for the UK public waking up to hearing thr news from Trump. Starmer's Labour experiment was always going to end in tears — and Trump called it first— Jason.B🏴 (@Basiofon) June 21, 2026
Here’s some additional coverage, per Politico:
The intervention by Trump came amid intensifying speculation in Westminster that Starmer could announce a departure plan as soon as Monday. One of his senior Cabinet allies, Business Secretary Peter Kyle, pointedly declined to rule out such a move Sunday morning, saying the prime minister was weighing the “political realities and challenges” that he faces.
Asked on the BBC whether Starmer would fight on, Kyle said: “These are decisions for Keir to make. He’s … taking the time to think through what the political realities are today, compared to last week, the week before.”
ADVERTISEMENTKyle’s comments followed a report in the Observer that Starmer would make a “clear statement” on his future after concluding his position was no longer tenable. The Guardian also reported that Starmer is expected to announceMonday that he will step down after pressure from Labour MPs to make way for Andy Burnham to become Labour leader.
Starmer’s troubles have been building for months, driven by poor polling, Labour unrest and complaints from MPs that the government has failed to recover momentum since its 2024 landslide.
The issues Trump highlighted have also dogged the prime minister. Labour has faced pressure over migration and defense spending, while its North Sea oil stance has drawn attacks from critics who argue it weakens Britain’s energy security.
And here’s some coverage of Trump’s remark from the British media’s perspective:
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