Trump Renews Attack on UK's North Sea Energy Policy
US President Donald Trump has launched fresh criticism against the United Kingdom's approach to North Sea energy resources, controversially stating that wind turbines "put you out of business." The remarks came during a press briefing outside the White House on Thursday, where the president directly addressed the UK's transition toward renewable energy sources.
"Drill Baby Drill" Message to Starmer
Mr Trump revealed he has been personally advising UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to facilitate expanded oil extraction in the North Sea basin. When questioned about whether European nations should increase purchases of American oil and gas, the president affirmed they should, but added: "And what they should be doing is using the North Sea."
"I can tell you, UK, I've been telling that to your Prime Minister," Trump declared. "The UK should open up the North Sea oil, one of the greatest in the world, and they should use it instead of buying oil from Norway and other places that use the same source."
The president continued his critique of wind energy infrastructure: "They should use it. And they're not doing it. They're doing windmills and windmills, windmills do one thing, you know what they do? Put you out of business."
Longstanding Opposition to Wind Energy
This latest intervention continues Trump's well-documented hostility toward wind turbines, particularly offshore wind developments. The president previously engaged in a protracted dispute with the Scottish Government to block a wind farm visible from his Aberdeenshire golf course.
Just two days prior to Thursday's comments, Trump took to his Truth Social platform with an unprompted post stating: "Europe is desperate for Energy, and yet the United Kingdom refuses to open North Sea Oil, one of the greatest fields in the World. Tragic!!!" The message concluded with his characteristic energy slogan: "drill baby drill."
Broader Critique of European Allies
Beyond energy policy, Trump expanded his criticism to encompass European security commitments. He suggested that the UK and other NATO allies who declined involvement in potential conflict with Iran have "got themselves a problem."
"We spent trillions and trillions of dollars on NATO," Trump asserted, "and when I asked them to get involved in a much smaller situation, which is the Strait of Hormuz and Iran, they weren't there for us."
The president contrasted this with American support for Ukraine, claiming: "It would have never happened if I were president, but nevertheless, when they've had problems over the years, we were there. When we asked them to get involved on a very minor skirmish, by comparison to what it could be, they weren't there."
Trump concluded with a warning about alliance reliability: "So I don't think they'd be there for a large skirmish. And therefore, I think they've got themselves a problem."
The comments represent Trump's latest foray into UK domestic policy debates, directly challenging the government's renewable energy transition while advocating for expanded fossil fuel extraction from the North Sea's substantial reserves.
