Trump tells PM Starmer Charlie Kirk could've become president

Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News on Sep 18, 2025

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

President Donald Trump said Thursday that Charlie Kirk could’ve become president one day.

Speaking at a joint press conference with United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump heaped praise on the slain conservative activist and disclosed that he told Kirk he had what it takes to win the White House.

“He was a great young man with an incredible future,” Trump said. “Some people said he might be president someday. I told him, I said, ‘Charlie, I think you have a good shot at someday being president.’”

Trump said Kirk was “heinously assassinated for speaking his mind.” He plans to attend Kirk’s memorial service Sunday in Arizona.

Starmer underlined the global significance of Kirk’s murder, saying he called Trump to express condolences after Kirk was shot dead last week during a speech on a Utah college campus.

“It sent shock waves through the world,” Starmer said.

Trump also derided late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, whose show was yanked off the air under pressure from Trump’s Federal Communications Commission after he accused Trump’s MAGA movement of trying to use the Kirk killing to gain a political advantage.

The president denied the brouhaha raises free speech concerns.

“Jimmy Kimmel was fired because he had bad ratings more than anything else and he said a horrible thing about ... Charlie Kirk,” Trump said. “They should have fired him a long time ago.”

The president wrapped up his pomp-filled second state visit to the U.K. with a chummy display of friendship with Starmer.

The two allies talked up billions in reciprocal tech investments in the two nations after holding a roundtable with business leaders as they signed the deal.

Trump and Starmer also had private meetings at which they discussed their approaches to the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.

They also discussed a dispute over steel imported from Britain to the U.S., among other trade issues.

But both men papered over any disagreements, stressing the nations’ long and strong alliance.

“While we shape this bond for a new era, the fundamentals have not changed,” Starmer gushed.

Trump appeared to break some news when he said the U.S. was seeking to get Afghanistan to restore its access to the Bagram air base that American troops abandoned when the Taliban overran the U.S.-backed Afghan government in 2021.

The British charm offensive was on full view for a second day after the royal family feted Trump and first lady Melania Trump at Windsor Castle on Wednesday

The royals pulled out all the pomp the monarchy can muster including gold-trimmed carriages, scarlet-clad soldiers, artillery salutes, a glittering banquet in a grand ceremonial hall and the biggest military honor guard ever assembled for such a state visit.

_____