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Starmer to host Trump on final day of UK state visit

Keir Starmer and Donald Trump at previous meeting in the US in February
Keir Starmer and Donald Trump at previous meeting in the US in February

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will host Donald Trump at his grace and favour country home today, as the US president continues his unprecedented second state visit to Britain.

Mr Starmer is hoping to keep the focus of the visit on an influx of American investment into the UK, all while both his Government and the Trump administration are plagued by scandals related to the late convicted sex offender, financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Overnight, Mr Starmer announced the prospect of some £150 billion flowing into the UK from big US firms such as Blackstone and Palantir.

As Mr Starmer and Mr Trump meet at Chequers - the Prime Minister's estate in Buckinghamshire - they also plan to sign a technology prosperity deal, touted as offering major investment by US tech firms in Britain, that will help to develop its AI capabilities.

Political campaign group Led By Donkeys project an image of Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump onto Windsor Castle as US President Trump's second state visit to the UK begins on 16th September 2025 in Windsor, United Kingdom. (photo by Mark Kerrison/In Pictures via Getty Images)
Protesters projected images of Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein on to Windsor Castle ahead of the state visit

Questions have, however, begun to arise over what American companies may want in return, with suggestions a tax on digital services - which largely impacts on US companies - could be reduced or eliminated.

Hopes that a deal aimed at reducing steel tariffs on British imports to the US could be hammered out during the state visit, meanwhile, appear to have fallen by the wayside, media reports have suggested.

Today's press conference with the two leaders could prove to be the moment of most jeopardy for ensuring the state visit concludes smoothly, as questions about Lord Peter Mandelson and Mr Trump's links to the late Epstein will likely arise.

Differences of opinion over the situation in the Middle East may also prove difficult for the two men.

Mr Starmer has delayed his plans to recognise a Palestinian state until after Mr Trump's visit concludes to avoid open disagreement over the matter, the Times reported.


Watch: UK and US 'two notes in one chord', Trump tells banquet

Yesterday evening, Mr Trump was the guest of honour at a lavish state banquet in Windsor Castle, hosted by the King.

There, he paid a heartfelt tribute to America's relationship with the UK, saying the word "special does not begin to do it justice", and claimed the nations were "two notes in one chord".

Among those at the banquet were the chiefs of major American firms, including big names from the tech world Sam Altman of OpenAI, Tim Cook of Apple, and Jensen Huang, the founder of Nvidia.

Britain's King Charles III (C) glances while standing beside US President Donald Trump at a State Banquet at Windsor Castle, in Windsor, on September 17, 2025, during the second State Visit of US President Donald Trump. US President Donald Trump arrived in Britain for an unprecedented second State V
King Charles hosted Donald Trump at a banquet dinner in Windsor Castle

Media mogul Rupert Murdoch was also a guest, despite being sued by the US president over a report linking him to Epstein.

Thousands marched through London yesterday in protest against the US president's state visit.

YouGov polling suggests nearly half of the British population (45%) believe it was wrong to invite Mr Trump for the visit, while 30% think it was right to do so.