Donald Trump has warned that the US-UK trade deal signed last May could ‘always be changed’, accusing Britain of failing to support Washington over its military action against Iran. In an interview with Sky News, the US president said the agreement, which reduced tariffs on cars, aluminium and steel, was ‘better than I had to’ and that the bilateral relationship was in a ‘sad state’.
Trump repeated his criticism that the UK was ‘not there when we needed them’ over the conflict, and attacked British policies on energy and immigration. He claimed that closing the North Sea oil industry was a ‘tragic mistake’ and that immigration policies were ‘insane’, adding: ‘You can’t succeed, not possible.’
UK ministers have cited the trade deal as evidence of continued close ties, but are reportedly furious at the economic fallout from the US-led war, which could trigger a global recession. Chancellor Rachel Reeves said she was ‘frustrated and angry’ that the US launched strikes without clear objectives, while Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was ‘fed up’ with rising energy bills linked to Trump’s actions.
Starmer’s spokesperson rejected Trump’s characterisation, insisting the special relationship ‘exists on multiple levels’ and is ‘far bigger than any individual issue’. Starmer has increasingly sought closer ties with the EU, arguing that the benefits are ‘simply too big to ignore’ amid global volatility.
Reeves is in Washington for IMF meetings, where she is expected to meet US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The IMF has cut Britain’s growth forecast due to the Gulf crisis and warned of possible worldwide recession. However, Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey said the UK’s resilient banking system, forged after the 2007-09 financial crisis, leaves the country better placed to cope.
