But he vowed to make it work even if it U.S. voters ultimately pick Trump as their next president.
“Obviously we respect the decision of the court, the independent court — there’s a bit of process to go with sentencing and appeal,” Starmer told BBC Radio Scotland. “But we are in an unprecedented situation. There’s no doubt about that.”
The Labour leader added: “Ultimately, whether he’s elected president will be a matter for the American people and, obviously, if we’re privileged to come in to serve, we would work with whoever they choose as their president.
“But there’s no getting away from the fact this is a wholly unprecedented situation.”
Starmer’s party has been building links with senior U.S. Republicans in case it defeats the Tories and the former president makes it back to the White House.
His Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy — in line to be Britain’s top diplomat if Labour wins — has been tempering his longstanding criticism of Trump and has already been winning praise from some Trump allies.