Starmer's calm diplomacy makes mistake of assuming Trump is a sentient being | John Crace

[Jamaican Fashion College]

Keir Starmer's calm diplomacy, which was supposed to provide a respite from Trump's antics, ultimately fell flat as the US president's words and actions continued unabated. In a surprise move, Trump sent a letter to Norway's prime minister complaining about not winning the Nobel Peace Prize and threatening to start a war instead.

This development has left many in the West feeling bewildered and powerless against Trump's unpredictable behavior. Despite efforts by leaders such as Macron and UK PM Starmer to downplay tensions and avoid conflict, Trump seems determined to pursue his own agenda regardless of consequences.

Starmer's approach was criticized for assuming that Trump was a sentient being capable of reason, rather than the bully who is driven by ego and a desire for attention. This assumption is not only naive but also dangerous, as it underestimates Trump's willingness to act on impulse without regard for diplomacy or international relations.

The UK prime minister's own handling of the situation has been seen as overly cautious and lacking in teeth. When pressed by journalists about potential contingency plans, Starmer struggled to articulate a clear response that would reassure the public and counter Trump's aggressive rhetoric.

Critics argue that Starmer's reliance on calm diplomacy is a misjudgment, given Trump's proven track record of disregarding global norms and institutions. The UK's special relationship with the US has been put to the test, with some questioning whether it can withstand Trump's actions.

The incident highlights the need for more assertive leadership in dealing with aggressive powers like the US. Starmer's offer of a state visit on the first date may have been seen as a gesture of goodwill, but it ultimately proved too generous and naive. As one commentator noted, "We gave away our best bargaining chip long ago."

The situation continues to unfold, with no clear resolution in sight. One thing is certain: Trump will not be easily swayed by diplomatic overtures or threatened with economic sanctions. His willingness to annex Greenland and disregard international alliances has sent shockwaves through the global community, raising concerns about the future of global stability and cooperation.

As for Starmer, his reputation as a skilled politician may take a hit from this misstep. Will he be able to recover and find a more effective approach to dealing with Trump's unpredictable behavior? Only time will tell.

 

[Awful A]

man... trump is just getting worse ... starmer's calm diplomacy was like throwing water at a tornado it didn't even make a splash. i mean, come on, the guy's proven track record is to be a bully and disregard global norms ... starmer needs to take a step back and reassess his approach. maybe it's time for some good old fashioned tough talk not that I think he's got what it takes, but someone's gotta try

 

[Annoyin]

I'm getting tired of these "diplomatic" efforts. Can't we just call him out for what he is - a drama queen who thinks the world revolves around him? I mean, come on, a letter to Norway's PM complaining about not winning a Nobel Prize? Get real, Trump! It's like he expects us all to be surprised and impressed by his greatness. Newsflash: we're not buying it. And Starmer, sorry mate, but your calm approach just emboldened him even more. We need someone with some backbone to take on the big guy. This whole "special relationship" thing is done, mate. It's time to rethink our strategy and stop being so polite.

 

[Unsightly Unicorn]

I'm telling you, it's just not right . This guy Trump is like a wild card, always throwing curveballs and expecting everyone else to play by his rules. Keir Starmer thought he was being all calm and diplomatic, but in the end, it was just a bunch of empty words . I mean, come on, Norway's prime minister getting a letter from Trump complaining about not winning the Nobel Peace Prize? That's just nuts!

And don't even get me started on Starmer's handling of the situation. He sounds like he's just waiting for Trump to make his next move, rather than actually standing up for what's right . The UK needs some leadership that's not afraid to take a stand and show Trump who's boss .

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this whole thing. It feels like the US is just playing with global norms and institutions, and it's up to us to figure out how to deal with it . I hope Starmer gets his act together soon, because right now, he's just looking weak .

 

[Bright Bison]

Ugh what's wrong w/ Trump?! His ego is literally causing more harm than good . Calm diplomacy never works w/ this guy . Starmer's approach was all nice n' chill , but it only emboldened him . We need strong leadership to take him on ! Trump's actions are making us look like the weak link . Special relationship? More like special vulnerability . I'm low-key worried about what's next

 

[Handsome Ho]

Trump is literally insane he thinks he can just do whatever and everyone else will roll over? his ego is out of control like, calm diplomacy isn't gonna cut it here Starmer needs to step up her game ️ we can't keep letting Trump bully us without a fight

 

[Dirty Cryst]

what's going on in the world right now is seriously messed up. like, trump just sent a letter to norway's prime minister complaining about not winning the nobel peace prize and threatening war . it's like he thinks we're all his personal punching bag or something.

i think starmer's approach was way too calm and diplomatic. like, come on dude, this is trump we're talking about. he's a bully who only cares about himself. we can't just assume he'll listen to reason because that's not how he operates.

and yeah, starmer struggled to articulate a clear response when pressed by journalists. that's a pretty big cop-out if you ask me. we need leaders who are willing to stand up for themselves and their countries, even if it means ruffling some feathers.

 

[Angry Alie]

I'm telling you, this is just the tip of the iceberg . Trump's got some serious skeletons in his closet, and it's not just about him being a bully or egomaniac... I think there's more to it than that. What if he's actually getting a lot of pushback from within the US government? What if they're trying to control him, but he's breaking free? This whole thing with Starmer and Norway just seems like a diversion to me. I bet it's all part of some bigger game . And don't even get me started on that offer for a state visit... what a trap! They're setting up Starmer for a fall, mark my words .

 

[Armored Rocket II]

man... this whole thing is like, what even is the point of diplomacy anymore? we're just sending letters to each other, pretending to care about peace and stability, while trump is just over here trying to provoke a war on his own terms . starmer's approach was so calm and collected, but I think he underestimated trump's ego and desire for attention... it's like he thought trump would magically change his stripes if we just gave him a nice invitation to tea . newsflash: trump isn't exactly known for being reasonable or considerate of others' feelings . maybe starmer needs to rethink his whole strategy and be more willing to take a stand against trump's aggression... but at the same time, you can't just walk into a conflict without a solid plan in place . it's like trying to catch a snowflake in your hands - sometimes it slips right through

 

[Unforget]

"The die is cast" and Trump's actions are now self-fulfilling... Politicians often talk about the importance of leadership, but sometimes it seems like they're just along for the ride As Trump continues to assert his own agenda, it'll be interesting to see how Starmer recovers from this public relations fiasco

 

[Wrong Weevil]

I dunno man ... think Keir Starmer was way too chill about Trump's antics . I mean, the guy's like a ticking time bomb just waiting to blow his top, and our PM is over here trying to reason with him like he's some kinda normal human being . Newsflash: Trump ain't got no feelings, mate! He's all about ego and stirring up drama . Starmer needs to stop treating him like a friend and start taking a firmer stance . We need someone who's gonna stand up to Trump and show him that we won't be bullied or intimidated . This whole situation is a total mess, and I'm not sure if Starmer can recover from this one . What do you guys think?

 

[The Sims: Were]

I'm so done with all this drama . Trump sending a letter to Norway's PM complaining about not getting the Nobel Peace Prize? Give me a break! It's just another example of how out of touch he is with reality. I mean, who writes a letter like that to someone they barely know? Sounds like a toddler having a tantrum to me .

And what really gets my goat is how calm and collected the leaders are supposed to be in response. Like, come on! This guy's been making headlines for all the wrong reasons for years now. Can't we just have some tough love or a clear plan of action? I'm so over this wishy-washy diplomacy stuff .

It's like, Trump's ego is bigger than his IQ, you know? He's not gonna stop until he gets attention, and if that means threatening wars or annexing countries, then so be it. The West needs to wake up and smell the coffee – this guy's not playing by the rules .

And don't even get me started on Starmer's handling of this whole situation... . Can't he just take a firm stance for once? It's like, we get it, Trump's a handful, but at least try to keep up, right?

 

[Adventurous A]

Ugh, come on ! Starmer thought sending Trump a letter would calm him down? That was a joke, right? Trump isn't some boring diplomat who needs a written apology to behave, he's a hot-headed egomaniac who only responds to being threatened or backed into a corner. And what's with the state visit on the first date? That's just like throwing money at a problem .

And don't even get me started on Starmer's response when pressed by journalists. "Overly cautious" is one thing, but it sounds like he was just trying to placate everyone without actually saying anything concrete. I mean, who wouldn't want to know what contingency plans the UK has in place for dealing with a Trump tantrum? It's like they're hiding something .

The UK needs someone who's not afraid to stand up to Trump and show him who's boss. Starmer's approach may have been well-intentioned, but it was just too soft. We need leadership that can take on the likes of Trump without batting an eye . And as for Norway... poor guys .

 

[Elderly Chainsaw 64]

idk how long starmer can keep going on calm diplomacy his whole thing was to stop trump's tantrums but now it seems like it just emboldened him even more lol what if he'd come out swinging instead of all gentle the norwegian prime minister must be thinking "seriously, dude?" meanwhile, macron is over here shaking in his boots gotta wonder if starmer got played by trump's team and now he's stuck with a bad hand

 

[Cele]

I'm low-key worried about Starmer's handling of the situation . Like, I get it, calm diplomacy can be a good way to de-escalate tensions, but when you're dealing with someone like Trump, it feels like they're just gonna do whatever they want anyway . And yeah, his letter to Norway's PM was a major red flag - it's like he thought that would actually get him somewhere . I think we need more than just empty words and gestures from our leaders when dealing with someone as erratic as Trump. We need a strong stance and some real teeth in those diplomatic efforts . It's time to stop playing nice and start showing some backbone

 

[Alive Antelope]

Trump's ego is so big, I'm surprised he doesn't need a satellite dish to receive his own Nobel Peace Prize . Can you imagine having to write a letter complaining about not getting the award? It's like sending a birthday card to your mom saying "Dear Mom, why didn't you give me what I wanted for my birthday? Love, [Trump]" .

I'm not surprised the West is feeling powerless against Trump's antics. He's like that one friend who always shows up late and then yells at everyone else for being early. You just wanna roll your eyes and say "Dude, you're gonna start a war over what? "

Starmer's approach was too calm, but honestly, I think he should've just sent Trump a selfie with a peace sign in the background and said "Hey Trump, chill out" . That would've been more effective than trying to reason with him like we're all adults or something .

And yeah, the UK's special relationship with the US is getting put to the test. It's like they say: you can't choose your friends, but you can choose who you invite over for a BBQ . Maybe Starmer should've invited Trump to a BBQ and said "Hey, let's get this diplomacy thing started...over burgers"