Keir Starmer faces 5 potential pitfalls in Donald Trump crunch press conference

After the pomp and ceremony it’s the turn of unadulterated red blooded politics to take centre stage. Day two of Donald Trump’s state visit promises to be a very different affair to yesterday’s Union Jack regality.

The US President was given the full Rolls-Royce treatment by the Royal Family - a guard of honour, Red Arrows (powered by Rolls-Royce engines) flypast and a lavish state banquet inside Windsor Castle. It was enough to satisfy the man with the biggest ego on the planet and enough to take the heat off Sir Keir Starmer, at least for one day.

The two leaders will hold a crunch meeting at Chequers, the Prime Minister’s country home, later today.

Before getting down to business they will dine on Dover Sole and Key lime pie, view the Churchill archives and be treated to a display from the British Army’s Red Devils.

With a press conference planned for mid-afternoon - and Trump's penchant for going off script - Sir Keir must be hoping that his already precarious world doesn’t come tumbling down to earth like the famed parachute display team.

The Republican strongman's answers are likely to be as full-bodied and robust as the £300-bottles of Californian Monte Bello guzzled by guests at last night's feast.

Flashpoints abound.

The number one question on most journalists' lips will be the Peter Mandelson-Jeffrey Epstein sleaze scandal.

It could be excruciating if Sir Keir is asked if he believes people with past associations with the notorious paedophile are fit to hold public office.

One week on from sacking the US ambassador over his ties to Epstein revealed in historical emails, No10 is still dogged by the controversy.

Free speech is another potential booby trap for the PM.

Recent censorship rows in Britain are under even more scrutiny following the assassination of Trump ally Charlie Kirk.

The arrest of Father Ted creator Graham Linehan by five armed officers when he flew into Heathrow over anti-trans tweets stunned free speech campaigners on both sides of the Atlantic.

Other awkward clashes could flare up over Net Zero - the US President has previously not held back on his hatred of wind turbines and attacks on Britain for shunning new oil and gas drilling - as well as the government’s plans to hit tech giants with a digital services tax.

Steel tariffs is another prickly subject.

Whitehall sources said months of lobbying had failed to persuade the White House to implement an agreement to tariffs on British steel exports to zero, despite one being announced.

And there’s the small matter of Trump foe and Starmer friend Sadiq Khan.

Will the President stick the boot into the London Mayor, who he has previously branded a “stone cold loser” and “dumb”, again or will he pull his punches.

You wouldn’t bet on it.