Donald Trump has said it is up to Sir Keir Starmer whether to quit or not as he warned the Prime Minister was ‘windmilling the country to death’.

The US President also argued the UK needed to get ‘tough on immigration’ and ‘open up oil in the North Sea’ – as he listed all the things the Labour leader was doing wrong.

Sir Keir is currently fighting for his political life in the face of a Labour revolt after last week’s disastrous local election results.

On Wednesday, he is set for showdown talks with Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who has made no secret of the fact he is preparing a leadership contest. 

So far, four ministers have resigned and more than 80 MPs have publicly called on Sir Keir to either quit or draw up a plan for his departure. 

Pressed over whether Sir Keir should stay or go, Trump said on Tuesday evening: ‘That’s up to him, but I told him from day one, you’re getting killed on energy.

‘You’re windmilling your country to death. Open up the North Sea. You have one of the greatest sources of energy in the world.’

Donald Trump has said it is up to Sir Keir Starmer whether to quit or not as he warned the Prime Minister was ‘windmilling the country to death’. The pair are pictured together in October 

Sir Keir is set for showdown talks with Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who has made no secret of the fact he is preparing a leadership contest

Keir Starmer is pictured with Catherine West and Wes Streeting, on day they all first took their seats in the Commons in 2015

The US President was speaking at the White House ahead of flying to China for a state visit, where he will hold talks with President Xi Jinping.

He has previously said it was ‘absolutely crazy’ not to boost oil and gas extraction in the North Sea and focus instead on renewable energy.

He has also argued wind turbines ‘put you out of business’.

Asked about the Prime Minister’s future, Mr Trump said: ‘Well, my advice to him has always been, open up your oil in the North Sea.

‘You got one of the great oil finds anywhere in the world, and you’re not using it, they’re not allowed to use it, and it’s one of the best in the world, among the best oils in the world.

‘Open up your oil in the North Sea and get tough on immigration.

‘Europe is being very, very hurt by immigration all over Europe.’

Despite pressure to resign, Sir Keir vowed to fight on at Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting. 

He was also publicly backed by several ministers at the top of Government, including his deputy David Lammy, who urged colleagues to ‘step back and take a breath’.

Deputy PM David Lammy gave a cheery wave as he arrived for Cabinet with Lord Hermer on Tuesday

Despite speculation that Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood could resign after reports that she privately told the Prime Minister to consider his position, a spokesman said she was ‘cracking on with the job’ and would not be quitting.

A statement understood to have been signed by more than 100 Labour MPs, and not organised by Downing Street, urged colleagues to come together behind the Prime Minister.

The statement said: ‘Last week we had a devastatingly tough set of election results. It shows we have a hard job ahead to win back trust from the electorate.

‘That job needs to start today – with all of us working together to deliver the change the country needs.

‘We must focus on that. This is no time for a leadership contest.’

At least 86 out of Labour’s 403 MPs have demanded Sir Keir’s departure after the party’s electoral mauling last week. 

While this passes the threshold to trigger a leadership contest, it does not meet the condition that they all line up behind a single challenger.

Ms Phillips, the most high profile of the ministerial departures, criticised the Prime Minister’s failure to be ‘bold’.

Dr Ahmed followed her out of the door on Tuesday afternoon, citing a ‘lack of values-driven leadership’ and saying the public has ‘irretrievably lost confidence in you as Prime Minister’.

Alex Davies-Jones, believed to be a supporter of Mr Streeting, also quit the Home Office, saying there had been a lack of ‘bold, radical action’.

Resigning housing minister Miatta Fahnbulleh, an ally of Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, said the public had lost trust in Sir Keir because of issues such as the scrapping of the winter fuel payment.

The Prime Minister earlier defied calls to vacate No 10, telling his Cabinet the country ‘expects us to get on with governing’ and ‘that is what I am doing’.

He avoided being directly challenged as he declined to discuss his leadership during Tuesday’s gathering or meet critics individually afterwards, it is understood. 

Sir Keir said he would only speak to ministers one-to-one about his fate, but did not do so once Cabinet concluded, according to sources.

Downing Street’s readout said ministers had agreed that the ‘number one priority remains getting the Strait of Hormuz open again’ as they discussed the Iran war in the meeting.

The Prime Minister chaired a Middle East Response Committee at lunchtime as planned, and he later met construction apprentices during a visit in London, although no reporters were invited.

A meeting scheduled for Tuesday afternoon between the Prime Minister and leaders of the unions affiliated to Labour – the so-called Tulo group – was cancelled.

Speaking to reporters outside No 10 later, Mr Lammy warned that ‘navel-gazing’ within Labour would only benefit Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, which made stunning gains at the expense of the ruling party in last week’s elections.

‘(The Prime Minister) was elected just under two years ago with a mandate from the British people for five years. 

‘He has my full support,’ said the Deputy Prime Minister, who is also Justice Secretary.

‘No one seems to have the names to stand up against Keir Starmer, and for those who are suggesting that he should stand down, they should say which candidate would be better.’

He added: ‘I urge colleagues to step back and not benefit Nigel Farage and Reform.’