On the same evening Donald Trump and Keir Starmer discussed a growing military crisis in the Middle East, the US president posted a comedy sketch portraying the British prime minister as hesitant and anxious about speaking with him.
The clip, taken from the debut of the UK version of Saturday Night Live, shows a fictionalised Starmer inside Downing Street, visibly nervous about an incoming call from Trump. In the skit, he asks, “What if Donald shouts at me?” before hanging up when the call connects, referring to Trump as a “that scary, scary, wonderful president”.
The timing is what makes the moment stand out. Behind the satire sits a real and increasingly tense diplomatic situation, with Washington pushing allies to support efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz — a critical route for global oil flows that Iran has effectively blockaded since late February.
Trump has been openly frustrated with NATO partners, including the UK, accusing them of benefiting from US military action without contributing. He recently described allies as unwilling to take what he framed as low-risk steps to secure the strait, even as they face rising energy costs.
In parallel to the public messaging, the two leaders held an actual call on Sunday evening. According to Downing Street, the conversation focused on “the need to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to resume global shipping”.
“They agreed that reopening the Strait of Hormuz was essential to ensure stability in the global energy market,” the statement said.
Still, the UK’s position appears more cautious. Starmer has stressed the need for a “viable plan” and made clear that his priority is protecting British interests while avoiding further escalation.
The contrast is hard to miss: a viral comedy sketch portraying hesitation, shared by the US president himself, unfolding alongside real-time coordination between allies over a potential widening of war.
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