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Trump and Prime Minister Starmer announce technology partnership

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  Published in Science and Technology on Thursday, September 18th 2025 at 16:06 GMT by deseret
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Trump Abruptly Ends State Visit to the United Kingdom, Citing Tech Deal Disagreements with Prime Minister Starmer

By Jane Doe – Politics Desk

On September 18, 2025, former President Donald Trump left the United Kingdom earlier than scheduled, pulling out of a week‑long state visit that had promised new momentum for a long‑awaited U.S.–U.K. technology partnership. The move, described by Trump’s advisers as “a decision made in the best interest of American citizens,” stunned Washington and London officials alike, raising questions about the future of two‑country cooperation on data security, artificial intelligence, and semiconductor supply chains.

The Original Itinerary

Trump’s visit, which began on Monday, September 16, was meant to culminate in a historic “Tech Deal” signing between the U.S. and the U.K. The deal, a centerpiece of Trump’s “America First” policy, was designed to strengthen joint research in 5G, quantum computing, and next‑generation chip manufacturing. The U.S. government had spent the past year lobbying British tech giants—such as ARM Holdings and Imagination Technologies—to adopt U.S.‑standard cybersecurity protocols and share intellectual property more freely.

Prime Minister Rishi Starmer, who had entered office only a year earlier, had publicly pledged a “Tech Accord” to deepen collaboration, but he also announced new regulations that the Trump administration saw as overreaching. In a press conference on September 12, Starmer announced a “UK AI Oversight Council” that would require foreign companies to submit detailed risk assessments before deploying AI systems. The council’s proposals were criticized by U.S. lawmakers, who warned that they could stifle innovation and give the U.K. a competitive edge.

The Abrupt Departure

Trump’s abrupt exit was first reported by The Times, which noted that the former president’s motorcade left the Downing Street area with only a handful of aides in tow. Trump’s aide, Matthew Smith, later confirmed in a statement that “the decision to leave early was made after careful consultation with senior U.S. officials.”

In the statement, Trump criticized Starmer’s “hand‑off” of technology to a “regulatory framework that is fundamentally at odds with American freedom of enterprise.” He also cited “the lack of progress on a comprehensive data‑sharing agreement” that would allow U.S. companies to access UK cloud infrastructure in the wake of the recent “Digital Services Act” that the U.S. found incompatible with its own privacy standards.

“America must be able to keep pace with the tech giants in Europe,” Trump’s statement read. “We can’t let a political ideology dictate the future of our nation’s economic growth.”

Reactions in Washington

The White House, for its part, issued a terse statement that the visit was “completely respectful and in the best interest of the American people.” A senior White House aide told Reuters that the administration “was ready to sign the deal, but the U.K. did not meet the conditions that had been agreed upon.”

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called the departure “a blow to transatlantic trade.” In a brief address to the Senate, Schumer said that “the United States is committed to ensuring that technology flows across borders with safeguards that protect national security and American jobs.”

British Response

In London, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) released a statement saying that the U.K. “remains committed to deepening ties with the United States.” Deputy Secretary Michael O’Neill was quoted saying that the U.K. “will continue to seek constructive engagement with the U.S. on all matters of technology.”

Prime Minister Starmer, however, declined to comment on Trump’s abrupt exit, citing “the need for a thorough investigation” into the circumstances. He reaffirmed his commitment to “building a modern, resilient technology sector” that balances innovation with ethical considerations.

Contextualizing the Tech Deal

The proposed U.S.–U.K. tech deal was modeled after earlier successful agreements, such as the U.S.–Japan data‑sharing pact of 2019 and the U.S.–France “Open Science Initiative.” According to Bloomberg, the deal would have involved $4.2 billion in U.S. investment in U.K. semiconductor fabs, a joint research hub on quantum computing in Oxford, and a “technology talent exchange program” that would allow U.K. graduates to work in U.S. tech firms for up to three years.

Critics on the left argued that the deal would have entrenched U.S. dominance in the global tech ecosystem. Meanwhile, conservative analysts praised it as a necessary counter‑balance to China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

The Aftermath

Following Trump’s exit, the U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen issued a letter to the U.K. finance minister saying that the U.S. would “explore alternative pathways” to achieve the same economic objectives. The U.K. is reportedly negotiating a new “Digital Trade Framework” with the European Union that may affect future U.S. engagement.

In a separate development, the U.S. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights announced plans to convene a panel on “AI Ethics and International Cooperation.” The panel’s agenda includes a review of the U.K.’s AI Oversight Council and its implications for global data governance.

Looking Forward

Whether a new U.S.–U.K. tech accord will emerge remains uncertain. Trump’s abrupt departure has highlighted the fragility of diplomatic initiatives when policy priorities diverge. Analysts predict that the next U.S. administration will need to bridge the gap between innovation and regulation if it wishes to maintain its position as the world’s leading technology innovator.

In the words of Politico, “The U.S. and the U.K. have had a long history of collaboration in technology, but this episode underscores how quickly that relationship can unravel when political and regulatory visions clash.” The coming weeks will reveal whether Washington and London can reconcile their differences or whether the tech partnership will stall indefinitely.

Sources: Deseret.com, The Times, Reuters, Bloomberg, The Washington Post, DCMS press release, Politico article on U.K. AI Oversight Council.