US President Donald Trump has called on the United Kingdom to abandon wind energy projects in favour of oil drilling in the North Sea, just two weeks after Washington finalised a trade agreement with London.
Writing on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump said the newly negotiated trade deal with the UK was “working out well for all,” but urged British leaders to cut energy costs by scrapping wind turbines and promoting fossil fuel extraction instead.
“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,” Trump posted.
Since returning to the presidency in January, Trump has made energy policy a key focus, reviving support for fossil fuels and scaling back on climate-related initiatives.
His comments contrast sharply with the UK’s stated goal of becoming a “clean energy superpower,” with the government investing heavily in renewable technologies such as wind and solar.
Trump pointed to Aberdeen—northeast Scotland’s energy hub and location of his Trump International golf course—as a prime area for further oil exploration. “A century of drilling left, with Aberdeen as the hub,” he claimed.
He also criticised the UK’s tax regime, saying it disincentivised drilling rather than promoting it, and argued that a change in policy could significantly reduce energy costs.
The trade deal, announced on 8 May, is the first agreement Trump has signed with any country since his return to office. It includes reductions in tariffs on British luxury cars and the lifting of duties on steel and aluminium, though a 10 per cent baseline tariff on British exports remains in place.