Donald Trump has urged the UK to get rid of “unsightly windmills” and incentivise drilling for oil in the North Sea.
The US president said the deal hammered out with Sir Keir Starmer’s Government is “working out well”.
The agreement gives the UK relief from tariffs on cars and steel in exchange for allowing America’s agricultural industry greater access to British markets.
Mr Trump said the UK could get its energy costs “way down” by drilling for oil in the North Sea, and he suggested Aberdeen as a hub.
“Our negotiated deal with the United Kingdom is working out well for all,” he posted on his platform Truth Social.
“I strongly recommend to them, however, that in order to get their energy costs down, they stop with the costly and unsightly windmills, and incentivise modernised drilling in the North Sea, where large amounts of oil lay waiting to be taken.
“A century of drilling left, with Aberdeen as the hub.
“The old-fashioned tax system disincentivises drilling, rather than the opposite. UK’s Energy Costs would go WAY DOWN, and fast.”
The US president has a golf course, Trump International Golf Links, in Aberdeenshire.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch suggested she was of a similar mind to Mr Trump.
“I have been very, very vocal about drilling in the North Sea. At the moment, energy is very expensive. We should be exploiting our natural resources,” she told broadcasters during a visit to East Yorkshire.
Mrs Badenoch also compared the North Sea oil and gas industries with the fishing industry, claiming these sectors were “dying”.
“This is what worries me, that industry is dying under Labour, and we have to save it,” she said.
Mr Trump also threatened a 50% tax on all imports from the EU on Friday as he expressed frustration with the lack of progress in trade talks.
The bloc has proposed mutually cutting tariffs to zero even as the president has publicly insisted on preserving a baseline 10% tax.
“Our discussions with them are going nowhere!” Mr Trump posted on Truth Social.
“Therefore, I am recommending a straight 50% Tariff on the European Union, starting on June 1, 2025. There is no Tariff if the product is built or manufactured in the United States.”
The Prime Minister @Keir_Starmer and I met today to discuss the recent progress made between our countries – from the historic trade deal that we made two weeks ago, to ensuring our long-term security with partnerships such as AUKUS. I told the Prime Minister that @POTUS Trump… pic.twitter.com/cfZXsFd9DQ
— Ambassador Warren Stephens (@USAmbUK) May 23, 2025
On Friday afternoon, Mr Trump’s ambassador to the UK, Warren Stephens, met with Sir Keir at Number 10 in a visit which lasted about 40 minutes.
“Today’s visit provided an opportunity to convey the priorities of the Trump administration, which includes maximising the US-UK partnership to advance our shared interests, such as the recently announced trade deal and our defence and security alliance which promotes stability and prosperity worldwide,” a US embassy spokesperson said.
Following the visit, the ambassador wrote on social media site X that he and Mr Trump were committed to working with Sir Keir and the UK “as we advance our shared interests of promoting stability and prosperity worldwide”.
