UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer met with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at Trump Tower during his visit to the UN General Assembly, aiming to establish a personal relationship and strengthen diplomatic ties. Starmer emphasized the importance of knowing counterparts personally in international relations, despite the potential awkwardness given past criticisms from his party and Foreign Secretary David Lammy. Trump praised Starmer, noting he 'ran a great race' and acknowledged his popularity, which reflects a mutual respect that could facilitate future discussions. The meeting comes amid Starmer's advocacy for increased military support for Ukraine, contrasting with Trump's more isolationist stance on U.S. involvement in the conflict. Starmer expressed intent to eventually meet Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, though scheduling conflicts have prevented this. The diplomatic engagement highlights the complexities of navigating U.S.-UK relations in a politically polarized environment.