Trump Administration Officials Held Face-to-Face Meetings With UK Ministers Over Trophy Hunting Ban
Representatives from Donald Trump's administration have conducted direct meetings with British government ministers in an effort to pressure the UK into abandoning its proposed ban on trophy hunting imports, according to exclusive revelations.
TV legend Chris Tarrant has launched a scathing attack on the former US president, accusing him of sending "henchmen" to "boss Britain around" and demanding that Trump "butt out" of British policymaking decisions.
US Government's Direct Intervention in UK Policy
The Mirror has learned that a US government representative met with Baroness Hayman, the minister responsible for steering the proposed trophy hunting ban through Parliament, in July of last year. This follows earlier revelations that US Interior Secretary Doug Bergum wrote to Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds, urging reconsideration of the ban.
In his correspondence, Bergum claimed the UK's proposed prohibition would damage local economies, undermine conservation efforts, and offend cultural sensitivities in the United States.
"Who the bloody hell do Donald Trump and his henchmen think they are trying to boss Britain around?" declared Tarrant, the former Tiswas host. "They've got no right to try and stop us from banning sick hunting trophies."
Cross-Party Political Opposition to US Pressure
A letter addressed to President Trump and signed by a cross-party group of 18 MPs and peers states unequivocally: "Britain is a proud nation of animal-lovers. That is why our ban will be the strongest of any country in the world. We sincerely hope that the US will one day follow our example."
Signatories include prominent figures such as:
- Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn
- Green Party MPs Sian Berry and Carla Denyer
- Liberal Democrats Steve Darling and Liz Jarvis
- SNP representative Graham Leadbitter
- Labour MPs Ian Byrne and Neil Duncan-Jordan
In response to a parliamentary question from independent MP Alex Easton, Defra minister Mary Creagh confirmed: "The Government is committed to banning the import of hunting trophies from species of conservation concern. We continue to engage constructively with a wide range of stakeholders including other Governments to understand different perspectives and ensure we can implement a robust ban."
Campaigners Decry "Outrageous" Foreign Interference
Eduardo Goncalves from the Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting expressed outrage at the developments: "First, the Trump Administration wrote to Ministers telling them to drop the ban. Now Trump officials have met face to face with the Government to give us our 'orders'. It's outrageous. Keir Starmer should be giving Trump's goons THEIR marching orders."
Goncalves further alleged that Americans account for the majority of animals shot by global trophy hunters, and that the trophy hunting industry contributed significantly to Trump's election campaign through substantial donations. He claims the industry also funneled approximately £1 million into a disinformation campaign targeting British parliamentarians.
The Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting has launched a public petition urging Trump to "stop trying to meddle in our affairs and start sorting out yours."
Tarrant concluded with a defiant message: "We're a nation of animal lovers - they're a nation of gun-lovers. We're going to ban trophy hunting whether Trump likes it or not. Our Government should ignore his pathetic attempts to bully us. Keir Starmer should tell Donald Trump to mind his own bloody business."
