Donald Trump suggested Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer could use the military to stop illegal migration at a news conference marking the end of the US president's second state visit to the UK.
Trump said he discussed migration issues with Sir Keir during a meeting at his country residence Chequers.
The US president talked about his policies to secure borders in the US and said the UK faced a similar challenge with migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats.
You have people coming in and I told the prime minister I would stop it, and it doesn't matter if you call out the military, it doesn't matter what means you use, Trump said.
He characterized illegal migration as a destructive force, stating, It destroys countries from within and we're actually now removing a lot of the people that came into our country.
During the visit, Trump emphasized his administration's efforts to deport illegal immigrants and crack down on unlawful border crossings. He was hosted at Windsor Castle and attended a state banquet with the Royal Family prior to his talks with Starmer.
In a wide-ranging Q&A, the leaders addressed various topics including Palestinian statehood, free speech, the war in Ukraine, and energy issues.
Both leaders strongly advocated for the special relationship between the UK and US and unveiled a new tech deal focused on advancing cooperation in artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.
However, a disagreement arose over the issue of Palestinian statehood, as Starmer expressed plans to recognize it, which Trump opposed, citing concerns about Hamas.
Regarding illegal migration, Trump and Starmer displayed a united front, with Starmer acknowledging that illegal migration was being taken incredibly seriously by his government, citing new return deals and recent successful migrant deportations.
