Inheritance tax clash exposes tension
Donald Trump’s stopover in Scotland turned into an uncomfortable spectacle for Prime Minister Keir Starmer, as the US President took over a joint appearance with lengthy monologues and unsolicited policy advice.
Meeting at Trump’s Turnberry golf resort, the pair were expected to exchange pleasantries and affirm UK – US ties. But the tone shifted quickly as Trump launched into an off-script monologue that forced Starmer into repeated, awkward interjections.
Things got tricky early when Trump was asked about inheritance tax on British farms – a deeply sensitive issue given Labour’s upcoming reforms. Rather than offer a reserved response, Trump launched into a detailed recount of how he abolished the US estate tax.
“I did something which was great…they had a 50 per cent tax to pay…they would go out and borrow money…and they would overextend and…commit suicide in many cases,” Trump said, claiming to have completely eliminated the tax for U.S. farms.
Starmer immediately interjected, pushing back hard on the misrepresentation. “Our levels are nowhere near 50%. It is paid over many years… and works out to an extra 2% a year over 10 years,” he stated, stressing that the UK’s system is far more gradual and less burdensome than Trump’s depiction.
The Prime Minister added that the inheritance tax would be spread over multiple years, unlike Trump’s portrayal of a sudden burden.
Despite Starmer’s attempt to clarify, Trump continued unabated. “We ended the Estate Tax… there is no estate tax on farms,”
Trump wasn’t done. “Keir will make the right call,” he smiled. “He’s a tax cutter – people like tax cutters. That’s what wins elections.”
Observers noted the exchange effectively undermined Starmer’s cautious position, casting him as aligned with Trump’s far more radical views. One aide was overheard muttering, “This wasn’t in the briefing notes.”
Trump rants about ‘ugly windmills’
The discomfort only deepened when Trump moved on to energy policy – specifically, his well-known hatred for wind farms. “Wind is a disaster,” he fumed. “In Aberdeen, you’ve got some of the ugliest windmills anywhere – 50 storeys tall, ruining the view. And the subsidies! People in Scotland are paying for these monsters.”
Starmer gave a diplomatic smile and tried to deflect. “We believe in a mix – wind, solar, gas, nuclear. It’s about balance,” he said.
But Trump pressed on, calling renewables “unreliable and expensive” and praising oil and gas as “job creators.”
By this point, aides were visibly shifting in their seats. The joint appearance was meant to symbolise unity – yet Trump’s solo performance kept veering into territory that exposed deep political differences.
Farage warning and political playbook
The final awkward moment came when Trump offered Starmer advice on how to beat Nigel Farage, should Reform UK pose a threat in future elections.
“Politics is not complicated,” Trump declared. “Whoever is toughest on immigration, who cracks down on crime, who cuts taxes – that’s who wins. You need strong borders, strong policing, and low energy costs. That’s what people want. That’s how I won.”
Again, Starmer attempted a pivot. “We’re focused on practical, fair measures,” he said. “What works for Britain”
But Trump carried on, name-dropping Farage and calling him “a friend” and “a good man.” He insisted the UK’s future political battles would be won on “law and order, lower taxes, and stopping the boats.”
Starmer stuck smiling through
The two men shook hands for the cameras, but the body language told its own story. Trump grinned throughout, basking in the spotlight. Starmer, by contrast, looked stiff and boxed in – keen to avoid a diplomatic incident but clearly rattled by the barrage.
By the end of the event, it was clear the former President had hijacked what was meant to be a carefully staged moment of unity. Instead, Starmer left with a series of unwanted headlines and a lesson in the risks of standing too close to Donald Trump when a microphone is live.
