Donald Trump said the Prime Minister should take a “strong stand” on immigration, which is “hurting him badly”.

The US President warned Sir Keir Starmer needs to clamp down on arrivals into Britain.

Speaking to Fox News at the end of his state visit to the UK, Mr Trump said: “I think he’s a very fine guy. He’s more liberal than me.

“I think he should take a very strong stand on the immigration. It’s really hurting him badly.

“I think he has to open up the North Sea. They have some of the best oil in the world and they have a lot of it.

“They have a lot of it and they made it impossible for people to drill. I think that’s what causes their energy … they have a big energy problem here with the pricing.”

Mr Trump earlier suggested Sir Keir should involve the military in tackling the small boats crisis, warning illegal migration could “destroy” countries.

The US president said he had discussed the situation with Sir Keir at the Prime Minister’s country residence Chequers.

He highlighted his own record in securing the borders in the US and suggested the UK faced a similar challenge.

More than 31,000 people have arrived in the UK after making the dangerous journey across the Channel in 2025.

Ministers agreed on the pilot scheme with the French government in July as part of efforts to deter the record number of arrivals by small boat crossings so far this year.

The first detentions of migrants took place last month as the deal came into force, and they have been held at an immigration removal centre pending their removal from the country.

Under the arrangement, the UK will return asylum seekers to France who have crossed the Channel, in exchange for those who apply and are approved to come to Britain.

The first arrivals to come to the UK under the new route are expected to arrive in the coming days.

Menwhile a second migrant challenging his proposed deportation to France under the Government’s “one in, one out” policy is due to be removed from the country early on Friday, the High Court has been told.