Matthew Pennycook said Keir Starmer would ‘see the funny side’ after Donald Trump shared a Saturday Night Live clip mocking the Prime Minister
08:17, 23 Mar 2026Updated 10:35, 23 Mar 2026
The US President shared a Saturday Night Live sketch mocking Keir Starmer(Image: @skytv/X)
A Government minister has said Keir Starmer will “see the funny side” of Donald Trump sharing a comedy sketch mocking the PM.
Matthew Pennycook insisted he is sure his boss would laugh if he saw the clip mocking him. On Sunday, shortly before holding a call with the PM, Trump shared a clip from Saturday Night Live depicting Mr Starmer being terrified of him.
In the clip Mr Starmer, played by comic George Fouracres, is shown trying to dodge a phone call from Trump. He told David Lammy, played by Hammed Animashaun: “Oh golly – what if Donald shouts at me?” He is later shown hanging up, branding Trump “scary”. The sketch was shared by the US President on his social media site Truth Social. The two leaders later spoke on the phone about the Middle East crisis.
Mr Pennycook told Times Radio: “I don’t think it’s embarrassing. It’s a comedy show. Keir’s got a sense of humour. If he had time to watch it I’m sure he would laugh like those who watched it, but he’s a bit busier I’m afraid at the moment, not least in preparing for the COBRA meeting he’ll chair this afternoon.”
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Pressed by host Kate McCann about whether it is embarrassing for a US President to be sharing a clip suggesting Mr Starmer is dithering, Mr Pennycook said: “This current one retweets lots of posts and I’m not going to get into a running commentary on them.
“This is a comedy show. I think the Prime Minister would see it for what it is. Our standing in the world is far beyond what it was under previous governments.”
He went on to tell Sky News of the same clip: “I think nothing’s usual with this particular President, and he posts all manner of things, but I think the Prime Minister would say this is a comedy sketch.
“He would take it in the spirit which is intended. It’s a piece of fun. If he had time to watch it, though, as he’s pretty busy, not least preparing for the COBRA meeting.”
Mr Starmer is set to hold an emergency meeting with senior ministers and the Governor of the Bank of England to discuss the impact of the war on the cost of living.
Relations have been tense between Trump and Keir Starmer in recent weeks
Relations between the White House and No10 have been tense in the past fortnight after Mr Starmer initally refused to allow the use of British bases for strikes on Iran. After Iran fired missiles across the region – putting Brits and UK allies at risk – the PM did allow their use, but only for “defensive” purposes.
Trump reacts furiously, launching a string of attacks on the PM. In one he said Mr Starmer is “no Winston Churchill”. In another he voiced his frustration that the Prime Minister said he would talk to his team before making a decision.
The unpredictable president, 79, has furiously hit out at US allies for not falling in line. Mr Starmer refused to allow the use of British bases to attack Iran on February 28 – the first action in the current war.
Donald Trump has been throwing tantrums about Keir Starmer for weeks(Image: Getty Images)
As the crisis escalated, the US President demanded allies from Europe and China sent warships to the region. But they declined to fall in line. Mr Starmer said last week that the UK will not allow itself to be dragged into a wider war, and said the Government’s focus is on de-escalation.
Following the call between the PM and Trump, a No10 statement said: “The Prime Minister spoke to the President of the United States, Donald Trump, this evening.
“The leaders discussed the current situation in the Middle East, and in particular, 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. They agreed to speak again soon.”