UK MP Calls Trump an ‘International Gangster’, Warns US–UK Ties Are Near Breaking Point
LONDON: In one of the sharpest parliamentary attacks on a sitting US president in recent memory, Ed Davey, leader of the UK’s Liberal Democrats, branded Donald Trump an “international gangster,” a “bully,” and “the most corrupt president the United States has ever seen,” as he delivered a blistering speech in the House of Commons.
Davey, whose party is the third-largest force in the UK Parliament, was responding to a string of tariff threats and diplomatic pressure tactics deployed by Trump against the United Kingdom and several European allies. The tensions stem from opposition to Trump’s controversial push to “buy” or annex Greenland, a move that has sparked outrage across Europe.
Calling the moment “incredibly grave,” Davey warned lawmakers that the long-vaunted “special relationship” between the UK and the US—once celebrated by Trump himself during a state visit at Windsor Castle—was now “nearly in tatters.”
‘Gangster Politics, Not Diplomacy’
Davey accused Trump of abandoning diplomacy in favour of coercion and intimidation, painting a picture of an American presidency driven by threats rather than alliances.
“President Trump is acting like an international gangster,” Davey told Parliament, accusing him of “threatening to trample over the sovereignty of an ally” and even “threatening the end of NATO altogether.”
Using stark language, he likened Trump’s behaviour to that of a playground bully. “He thinks he can grab whatever he wants, using force if necessary,” Davey said, warning that such conduct undermines decades of collective security built through alliances.
Davey further argued that Trump’s confrontational posture only benefits Washington’s strategic rivals. “The only people cheering him on are Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping,” he said, suggesting the discord weakens the Western alliance at a critical geopolitical moment.
Criticism of UK Governments Past and Present
The Liberal Democrat leader also turned his fire inward, accusing both the current Labour government and previous Conservative administrations of mishandling Trump.
“They have appeased him, flattered him, fawned over him,” Davey said, arguing that such a strategy has clearly failed. The UK, he insisted, now faces a stark choice: “stand up to him” or attempt to placate him through what he mockingly described as “a few billion in his crypto account.”
His remarks drew murmurs across the chamber, reflecting growing unease among British lawmakers over how to manage relations with a volatile White House.
Tariffs, Greenland, and Escalating Threats
The parliamentary outburst follows Trump’s announcement of proposed 10% to 25% import tariffs on goods from eight European nations, including the UK, beginning in February. The tariffs are framed by Trump as retaliation against countries backing Denmark’s refusal to discuss a US takeover of Greenland.
Trump has repeatedly claimed that the US “needs” Greenland for national security, citing potential threats from China and Russia in the Arctic. European leaders, however, have dismissed the argument as imperial overreach.
Fueling further controversy, Trump posted fabricated images on social media depicting the US flag planted on Greenland and maps showing both Greenland and Canada as part of the United States—posts that were widely condemned as provocative and irresponsible.
France Drawn Into the Storm
The diplomatic rift has also ensnared Emmanuel Macron, with Trump publicly clashing with the French leader over US expansionist rhetoric, its Gaza proposals, and claims of promoting “world peace.”
Trump went as far as threatening 200% tariffs on French wines and champagnes, suggesting such pressure would compel Macron to join his so-called “Board of Peace” initiative—an informal plan Trump claims could resolve global conflicts, starting with Gaza.
European diplomats have reacted with skepticism, warning that such unilateral schemes risk undermining established multilateral institutions like the United Nations.
Tensions escalated further when Trump published a private message from Macron expressing confusion over US actions on Greenland. French Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard condemned the tactics as brutal and described them as “a tool for blackmail,” insisting Europe must not yield to escalation.
Washington Plays Down the Crisis
Despite the uproar, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent sought to calm nerves, urging America’s partners to “take a deep breath.” He claimed that transatlantic relations have “never been closer,” a statement that has been met with disbelief in several European capitals
Analysts, however, warn that the rhetoric and tariff threats risk triggering a damaging trade war and weakening NATO at a time of mounting global instability.
Our Thoughts
Ed Davey’s blunt intervention reflects a growing willingness in Europe to publicly confront Donald Trump’s foreign policy style rather than quietly accommodate it. With tariffs looming, NATO unity under strain, and provocative symbolism replacing diplomacy, the crisis highlights how personal grievance-driven politics can destabilise long-standing alliances. Whether cooler heads prevail—or whether this confrontation marks a lasting fracture in transatlantic relations—may shape Western geopolitics for years to come.