Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of staff ‘was sent on a secret mission to the US to charm Donald Trump’, a No10 insider has revealed.
Morgan McSweeney travelled to Florida to meet Susie Wiles, the political strategist who is set to be named set to be named the president’s chief of staff in office.
Mr McSweeney also discussed policies with Mike Waltz, the congressman who has been named as Mr Trump’s next national security adviser, in Washington earlier this month.
His trip suggests there is some worry within the Government about their relationship with the US and shows a focus on building bridges with the incoming president.
Mr McSweeney had faced criticism from Trump’s campaign during the election when it emerged he had attended the Democrat’s party’s convention.
A number of Cabinet ministers have also been outspoken in their criticism of the president-elect, whilst Reform leader Nigel Farage is considered a ‘friend’ by Mr Trump.
The PM has also previously clashed with Mr Musk, who has become a key supporter of Mr Trump and been appointed by the President-elect to lead a new US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Despite this, the two nation’s leaders discussed the possibility of the Prime Minister visiting the US next February during a phone call on Wednesday.
Sir Keir Starmer (pictured) is said to be looking to build bridges with the incoming president
Sir Keir spoke to Donald Trump amid claims he is eyeing up a White House visit in February following the US President-elect’s inauguration
Their conversation came amid claims Sir Keir is eyeing up a White House visit in February following the US President-elect’s inauguration.
A senior Downing Street source told The Telegraph: ‘The mood music was very warm. President Trump is nothing but warm about the UK.
‘As the year closes, Team Starmer is confident the UK is in a good position for a strong bilateral relationship with the new presidency.’
Joining Mr McSweeney on the US trip was Jonathan Powell, the former chief of staff to Sir Tony Blair, who last month was made Sir Keir’s national security adviser.
Mr Powell had previously negotiated the deal to give away the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, which is now hanging in the balance following Trump’s election win.
Mr Farage told the Commons on Wednesday that he had encountered ‘very deep disquiet’ in Mr Trump’s team about the agreement when he visited his Mar-a-Lago estate earlier this week.
During the US charm offensive, the Labour delegates had a conversation about the UK-US trade relationship, as Sir Keir hopes to strike a trade deal with America, while avoiding any import tariffs imposed by Mr Trump.
Ukraine, China and the Middle East have also been a point of difference between the leaders, and Mr McSweeney and Mr Powell discussed working together on these polices whilst in the States.
Morgan McSweeney travelled to Florida to meet Susie Wiles, the political strategist who is set to be named set to be named the president’s chief of staff in office
Ms Wiles (pictured) was the mastermind behind Mr Trump’s re-election
Downing Street said earlier this week that the Prime Minister and Mr Trump discussed the Ukraine war and the Middle East crisis during their phone call.
Sir Keir also congratulated the President-elect on his appointments to his incoming administration, which include billionaire businessman Elon Musk.
No10 provided a readout of the pair’s call amid reports the PM could make a trip to meet Mr Trump in person soon after his inauguration ceremony on 20 January.
The PM is expected to visit as early as February, according to the i newspaper.
Sir Keir met Mr Trump for the first time in September, prior to his US election victory, as they dined together for two hours in New York.
They were also joined by Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who previously called Mr Trump a ‘racist’ and a ‘neo-Nazi sympathising sociopath’.
In a readout of Sir Keir and Mr Trump’s call, a Downing Street spokesperson said: ‘The PM spoke to President-elect Donald Trump this afternoon from Downing Street.
‘The PM began by congratulating President-elect Trump on his recent team appointments and President-elect Trump warmly recounted his meeting with His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales in Paris earlier this month.
Mr McSweeney also discussed policies with Mike Waltz, the congressman who has been named as Mr Trump’s next national security adviser
Joining Mr McSweeney on the US trip was Jonathan Powell, the former chief of staff to Sir Tony Blair, who last month was made Sir Keir’s national security adviser
‘Both agreed on their joint ambition to strengthen the close and historic relationship between the UK and the US.
‘They looked forward to working together on shared priorities, including international security and delivering economic growth and prosperity.
‘Turning to global conflicts, the PM reiterated the need for allies to stand together with Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression and to ensure Ukraine is in the strongest possible position.
‘On the Middle East, the PM underscored the need to work together to ensure peace and security in the region.
‘They agreed to keep in touch and looked forward to seeing one another at the earliest opportunity.’
Sir Keir and Mr Musk, who met with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage on Monday, clashed earlier this year over the widespread rioting in the UK.
The billionaire Tesla boss and owner of X sparked a furious backlash by claiming that ‘civil war is inevitable’ amid the violent chaos in British cities and towns.
He also branded the PM ‘Two Tier Keir’ as he fuelled claims that UK police treat some groups more harshly than others.
But Mr Musk was left red-faced after being forced to retract false claims about Sir Keir setting up detainment camps in the Falkland Islands for rioters.
