Donald Trump is expected to confront Sir Keir Starmer over immigration when G7 leaders gather this week, according to White House sources familiar with the President’s plans.
The issue has gained renewed attention following unrest in Belfast after an alleged attempted beheading shocked the public and drew international headlines. European diplomats are reportedly concerned that Trump could use the incident to press for tougher migration policies.
A 30-year-old Sudanese asylum seeker, Hadi Alodid, appeared in court on Wednesday charged with attempted murder. The victim, a man in his 40s identified locally as Scottish national Stephen Ogilvie, remains in hospital with serious injuries to his face, neck and back.
Immigration has become a growing point of friction between Washington and London, with Trump repeatedly accusing Starmer — both publicly and behind closed doors — of failing to stop migrants reaching Britain.
One senior Trump administration official argued that migration into Europe ultimately affects the United States, claiming it changes the character and values of allied nations.
Referring to the Five Eyes intelligence alliance of the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, the official said: “We don’t want Five Eyes partners ruled by sharia courts. We don’t want mutual defence pacts with societies viciously hostile to the idea of the West defending or sustaining itself.”
White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly said: “Left-wing policies of unfettered migration and destructive globalism have made once great European cities unrecognisable.”
Trump has previously described Starmer’s migration approach as “horrible” and has suggested using the military to stop small-boat crossings, while also claiming Britain is drifting towards sharia law.
Small-boat arrivals reached a record 31,000 in 2025, the highest yearly total since crossings began in 2018.
Meanwhile, Geneva came to a standstill on Sunday as around 50,000 protesters gathered ahead of the summit. Many businesses shut their doors while riot police took up positions behind security barriers across the city.
Authorities closed 27 border crossings to stop demonstrators reaching Évian, the French lakeside resort hosting world leaders. Military helicopters patrolled the skies above Lake Geneva while police boats monitored the water.
The No-G7 coalition, made up of more than 60 unions, associations and left-wing organisations, says it is protesting against what it calls “fascism and imperialism”.
Coalition spokesman Francoise Nyffeler told the Associated Press: “We are very afraid of the policy and the politics of Mr Trump and also of the other leaders of the G7, because they are fighting, making war all over the place.”
French and Swiss troops have been deployed alongside local police because of the scale of the demonstrations and the presence of numerous world leaders.
The three-day summit begins on Monday after being delayed by a day so Trump could celebrate his 80th birthday with a UFC event staged on the White House South Lawn.
Trump is due to take part in a working session with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday, although officials say no formal one-on-one meeting has been arranged. A senior administration source said the two leaders could still meet informally during the summit.
The President is also scheduled to hold separate talks with the leaders of Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and India. Discussions are expected to centre on finalising a US-Iran peace agreement currently being brokered by Pakistan.
The state of US-Iran negotiations is likely to dominate the summit agenda, alongside possible discussions about French and British involvement in mine-clearing operations in the Strait of Hormuz, where shipping has been heavily disrupted by the conflict.
Trade imbalances are also expected to feature prominently, with a US official praising France for placing the issue on the agenda at Trump’s long-standing request.
Trump will conclude the visit with a dinner at the Palace of Versailles hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday evening to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence.
