Cross-party MPs are urging Prime Minister Keir Starmer to hit back at Donald Trump by orchestrating a boycott of the men's football World Cup in the United States this summer. The dramatic call to action follows the US President's threat to impose punitive tariffs on the UK and other NATO allies over his controversial bid to purchase Greenland.
Trump's Tariff Ultimatum Sparks Fury
The diplomatic crisis escalated over the weekend when Donald Trump warned he would slap 10% tariffs on countries, including the UK, from February. This move is a direct retaliation for opposing his desired takeover of the autonomous Danish territory. In an incendiary further step, Trump threatened to hike these levies on NATO allies to a staggering 25% on June 1 if a deal for Greenland is not secured by that date.
Pressure on the UK government intensified on Monday morning after Trump issued an extraordinary social media post. He branded Britain's decision to cede the Chagos Islands an "act of GREAT STUPIDITY" and "total weakness," claiming the move was being closely watched by China and Russia.
Calls to 'Fight Fire with Fire' and Target Trump's Pride
In the House of Commons on Monday evening, Conservative former minister Simon Hoare and Liberal Democrat MP Luke Taylor led the charge for a robust response. They argued that conventional diplomacy had failed with a US President who "laughs... blatantly in our faces."
Mr Hoare stated that the UK must now target what makes Trump tick: his ego and thin skin. "We now need to fight fire with fire," he declared, suggesting two high-profile actions that would cause significant domestic embarrassment for the President.
Firstly, he proposed that the King's planned state visit to the United States should be cancelled. Secondly, and most notably, he called for England and Scotland, along with any other home nations that qualify, to boycott the upcoming FIFA World Cup. The tournament is scheduled to begin in the US on June 11.
Luke Taylor echoed these sentiments, arguing that Trump is not a rational actor and responds only to "shiny baubles" that affect his pride. "A boycott of the World Cup would show Donald Trump that the only thing he responds to is his own pride," the Lib Dem MP said.
World Cup Dreams Hang in the Balance
The proposed boycott places the historic participation of the home nations in jeopardy. Scotland is set to play its first World Cup match in nearly 30 years on June 14, while Thomas Tuchel's England will begin their campaign against Croatia on June 17. Scotland's group stage fixtures are planned for Massachusetts and Florida, with England's matches set for Texas, Massachusetts, and New Jersey.
However, the government's initial response urged caution. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper highlighted that sustained engagement had already led to changes in US policy on tariffs and Ukraine. Meanwhile, Dame Emily Thornberry, chair of the foreign affairs committee, advised a calmer approach. Speaking to BBC Radio 4, she suggested, "We have to remain firm and strong and calm... I think we have to hold our ground at the moment."
The row leaves the Prime Minister with a delicate balancing act: maintaining a crucial international alliance while responding to domestic pressure to stand up to what MPs see as bullying tactics from the White House.
