The extent of Keir Starmer’s surprise ‘bromance’ with Donald Trump has been revealed by behind-the-scenes photos.

Images released by Downing Street give a glimpse of the interactions between the two leaders during their first talks at the White House.

The PM and the president can be seen chatting intently in the historic surroundings as they looked for common ground on thorny issues including Ukraine and trade.   

Downing Street were left elated after Mr Trump hailed the premier as ‘special’ and described the UK as America’s ‘No1 ally’ during an Oval Office photo call and press conference. 

He even complimented Sir Keir’s ‘beautiful’ accent and ‘impressive’ wife Victoria – who was not present on the trip. 

The extent of Keir Starmer’s surprise ‘bromance’ with Donald Trump has been revealed by behind-the-scenes photos

Mr Trump and Sir Keir chatted intently in the historic surroundings of the White House

The two leaders looked relaxed in each other’s company at their first meeting in the White House last night 

Mr Trump was seen guiding Sir Keir around the president’s official base 

Sir Keir and Mr Trump belied concerns about whether the encounter could turn nasty, with an array of potential flashpoints 

In the Oval Office, Sir Keir handed Mr Trump a letter from the King inviting him for an unprecedented second state visit, and he responded that he was ‘honoured’ and would be coming to the UK ‘soon’. 

Despite the evident warmth, there was little in the way of concrete commitments from the US on Ukraine. 

The PM lavished praise on Mr Trump’s efforts to bring peace, but stressed any settlement must be lasting and not favour ‘invader’ Vladimir Putin amid continuing doubts about whether the US will offer security guarantees.

He welcomed a bust of Winston Churchill being returned to the Oval Office, and said they wanted to work together on a ‘new economic deal with advanced technology at its core’.

Pitching himself as a fellow ‘winner’ on stage with Mr Trump, Sir Keir acknowledged that they were from very different political traditions. But he said they both believed ‘it’s not the taking part that counts, it’s winning… if you don’t win, you don’t deliver’.

At one point Sir Keir laughed off a question about Mr Trump’s desire to make Canada a US state by saying: ‘I think you are trying to find a divide between us that does not exist.’

Earlier, the smiling PM was greeted by the president with a warm handshake outside the famous building in Washington.

Sir Keir and Mr Trump walking together around the White House last night

Mr Trump also had a warm welcome for Foreign Secretary David Lammy – who once had a rather less positive view of the president

In the Oval Office, Sir Keir handed Mr Trump a letter from the King inviting him for an unprecedented second state visit, and he responded that he was ‘honoured’ and would be coming to the UK ‘soon’

Mr Trump repeatedly raised the prospect of a trade deal – suggesting it might be a way of avoiding the need for tariffs on UK imports.

‘We’re going to have a great trade agreement, one way or another,’ he said.

‘We’re going to end up with a very good trade agreement for both countries and we are working on that as we speak.’

He added: ‘I think we’ll have something, maybe in terms of possibilities, agreed very shortly.

‘We’ll see if we can do something pretty quickly. But we’re going to make some great trade agreements with the UK and with the Prime Minister, and it’ll happen very quickly.’