It was supposed to be a high-stakes gathering of the world's most powerful leaders. Instead, for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the G7 summit in France became something closer to a masterclass in public embarrassment courtesy of US President Donald Trump.
The Snub That Played Out Live on Fox News
Wednesday's session at the Évian-les-Bains summit was the final day of the annual G7 meeting, with major topics on the agenda including the ongoing Iran crisis, artificial intelligence regulation, and global economic coordination. But when Trump entered the room, the mood shifted from diplomatic to theatrical almost instantly.
Walking in with his signature confidence, the 80-year-old announced to the room, "I'm the boss" drawing the kind of attention only Trump tends to command. As he made his way to his seat, he passed Starmer and offered a casual pat on the shoulder. Starmer responded verbally, seemingly trying to engage the American president in even a brief exchange. It didn't work. Trump moved straight past him and turned his full attention to French President Emmanuel Macron greeting him with a proper handshake and exchanging pleasantries before settling into his chair.
The whole thing played out in real time on Fox News. Starmer's attempted acknowledgment, met with nothing but a turned back, was impossible to miss.
The Day Before Was Just as Painful
What made the Wednesday moment sting even more was that it wasn't an isolated incident. Just 24 hours earlier, a near-identical scene had unfolded and that one was broadcast on GB News.
On Tuesday, Starmer stood close to Trump as the US president worked the room, shaking hands and greeting various leaders around him. Starmer stood there, a fixed smile plastered on his face, as Trump appeared to deliberately avoid acknowledging him despite their physical proximity.
A GB News reporter didn't hold back in their commentary, noting bluntly: "The US president brutally blanked the Prime Minister, as you can see on your screens now." The presenter even drew a pointed historical comparison, asking whether this was reminiscent of Theresa May's awkward isolation at the 2016 Brexit summit and whether this was "Sir Keir Starmer's final humiliation."
Adding an almost darkly comedic layer to the broadcast, a news ticker ran simultaneously across the bottom of the screen reading: "PM insists he 'gets on really well' with the President despite no one-to-one meeting."
Starmer Pushes Back on Leadership Questions
Back home, the optics haven't done Starmer any favors at a time when his leadership is already facing scrutiny. Questions continue to mount about his grip on power within his own party but the Prime Minister made clear he has no intention of stepping aside.
Speaking directly from the G7 summit, Starmer said: "If there is a challenge, I intend to fight in any challenge to my leadership. I don't think there should be a challenge, because I think that is a bad thing for the country."
It was a defiant statement from a leader who clearly understands the political ground beneath him is shakier than he'd like. Whether those words will be enough to quiet the doubters, however, remains another question entirely especially when clips of him being ignored by the American president keep circulating online.
For now, the images from Évian-les-Bains tell their own story — and it's not one Downing Street will be in any hurry to revisit.
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