Donald Trump ripping into Keir Starmer with impersonation at private event leaks online

A video appearing to show Donald Trump mocking Keir Starmer's position on the war in Iran has emerged.

The US leader has pressed on with his objectives in the Middle East, telling Americans that he's planning 'crushing' strikes on Iran in the coming weeks, despite widespread opposition to the conflict both at home and internationally.

Despite a recent CNN poll suggesting that 66 percent of Americans disapprove of the war, with strong opposition polling at 43 percent, President Trump has continued with his goals – and it seems he still has a bee in his bonnet about countries which aren't pledging unwavering support for the US armed forces.

Now, footage from a private event hosted at the White House on 1 April has seen the 79-year-old rip into the UK Prime Minister for his refusal to join in the bombing campaign.

Speaking to attendees at the event, Trump claimed he'd asked the UK for 'two, old, broken-down aircraft carriers' to help in his plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz - which had been open before the war - before attempting to mimic the British prime minister.

"No, no, no, I have to ask my team. My team has to meet, we're meeting next week," Trump claimed was Starmer's reply.

"By that point the war might be over," grumbled Trump in response to the rejection.

According to MailOnline, the event had been closed to the press, but ultimately ended up online after someone uploaded a live stream to the White House YouTube channel.

The recording has since been made unavailable for the public to view, but not before several people were able to download the video.

A representative for the White House didn't dispute that the remarks happened during the lunch, telling the outlet: "President Trump has made his disappointment with the United Kingdom and other NATO allies clear, and as the President emphasised: 'The United States will remember'."

What has Keir Starmer said about the Iran war?

Trump's complaints come as Starmer reiterated his stance against joining the war, telling reporters earlier that day that the UK would not be 'dragged' into the ongoing conflict.

"I'm the British Prime Minister, and I must act in British national interests," he said, refusing to be pressured by Trump into joining the war.

Starmer's stance on the war appears to be broadly in line with that of the British public, with a YouGov poll revealing that most Brits believe the UK's involvement should be 'purely defensive'.

Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper chaired a meeting alongside 40 allied countries yesterday, with the goal of discussing 'every possible diplomatic, economic and coordinated measure' available to get Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz.

Acknowledging the wide-ranging impact the closure of the shipping lane is having around the world, Cooper said: "That’s affecting petrol prices and mortgage rates here in the UK, but also jet fuel across the world, fertiliser to Africa, and also gas to Asia. So countries across the world are being impacted, and that’s why we’re so determined to see every possible diplomatic, economic and coordinated measure to get the strait reopened."

Speaking during a national address this week, Trump said countries that rely on the Strait of Hormuz should 'build up some delayed courage' and 'just grab it', suggesting that after the Iran conflict ends, the waterway would 'just open up naturally'.

However, Starmer has said that unblocking the strait will 'not be easy'.