Sir Keir Starmer - back in the UK now after his 36 hour there-and-back-trip to Washington DC - woke up to the best front pages for his Government since last July's generation.
I wonder whether Team Starmer had been assisted by being able to watch how France's president Emmanuel Macron's visit to the White House had gone on Monday. And learn the lessons.
Emmanuel Macron probably thought he had got one over on Starmer by being the first European leader to stage an official visit to Trump at the White House since the inauguration.
But it seemed to backfire. Macron looked just a little too keen to be best pals with the US President, grabbing Trump's knee in an enthusiastic bout of hand holding which left him looking needy.
How Keir Starmer beat Emmanuel Macron to win over Donald Trump - and why it could all change TODAY - Chris Hope
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In contrast, Starmer seemed more relaxed and comfortable, politely ceding the question-and-answer session in Trump's Oval Office to the US President, from my position in the Oval Office, just 10 feet in front of them.
Part of the reason for the powerplay between the two could have been because Trump and Macron are both Heads of State and so are diplomatically each other's equal.
Starmer is only a Prime Minister (the King is our Head of State, of course) and so is a natural junior partner. Macron also came away with little but platitudes from his visit on Monday. Contrast that with the diplomatic 'wins' Starmer was able to bag: Trump strongly hinting he would not block the Chagos deal, enthusiastically accepting two trips - including an unprecedented second State Visit - to the UK and the prospect of a mini-trade deal, just as he slaps 25pc tariffs on EU car makers.
Starmer had arrived in Washington DC on Wednesday somewhat nervously. But it went as well as he could have hoped.
Plenty can change. This afternoon, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky is in the White House to sign away rights to minerals to the US as the price of any peace deal. But what if he baulks at the price? What if he falls out with Trump? Starmer's summit of over a dozen European leaders on Sunday - yes including Macron and Zelensky - could be a huge step forward to peace in Ukraine, or another crisis meeting.
Time will tell. But today Starmer can reflect on a successful 36 hours in Washington DC and - sacré bleu! - getting one over on the French.
