President Trump went on a rampage against unhelpful allies in a call with The Post on Thursday, blasting Spain as a “loser” and asserting United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer should be supporting the US campaign against Iran “without question.”
“We have a lot of winners, but Spain is a loser, and UK has been very disappointing,” Trump said in a phone interview with The Post. “[Spain is] very hostile to NATO.”
“They don’t pay their — they’re the only one that voted against the 5% payment, and they’re very hostile to everyone,” he said, referring to the alliance’s commitment to contribute 5% of their GDP to defense.
“Not a team player, and we’re not going to be a team player with Spain either.”
Asked about reports by the Telegraph that he had also called Starmer a “loser” in private conversations, Trump was blunt.
“Well, he’s not Winston Churchill, let me put it that way,” said Trump, repeating a line from earlier this week.
Trump has been frustrated with Starmer for not allowing the US to use British military bases in the American and Israeli bombing campaign on Iran.
“It was very disappointing — his performance, having to do with our tremendous attack on a hostile nation,” Trump said. “He should be giving us, without question or hesitation, things like bases where we can use others.”
The president added that he was taken aback by Starmer’s resistance to work with the Pentagon, given the UK and US’ close alliance.
“We should [be able to] certainly count on them,” he said. “I was very surprised at Keir. Very disappointed.”
Follow The Post’s coverage of the United States’ airstrikes on Iran:
The president said he and Starmer had spoken recently, but did not provide details.
“I get along with him fine,” Trump said. “But he, he sometimes doesn’t do things that he should be doing.”
Starmer, who has been under pressure politically at home due in part to the Epstein files fallout engulfing key British figures, has stood by his decision not to join strikes on Iran, citing a lack of a “thought-through plan.”
“While the region has been plunged into chaos, my focus has been on providing calm, level-headed leadership in the national interest,” Starmer said. “It means having the strength to stand firm by our values and by our principles, no matter the pressure to do otherwise.”
But he did say that the situation changed after Iran started retaliatory strikes on Gulf nations. He said on Thursday the UK will send four extra fighter jets to Qatar and helicopters with anti-drone capabilities to Cyprus to help with defense.
“Our number one priority is protecting our people,” he said.
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