Trump Calls UK "Bankrupt" and Urges North Sea Drilling
President Trump claimed the United Kingdom was “bankrupt” and pressed it to ramp up North Sea oil and gas drilling, even as he praised Andy Burnham as “terrific”. The remarks, characteristically blunt, waded into a live debate over Britain’s energy policy and public finances. Downing Street did not immediately respond.
Mr Trump’s intervention lands as Mr Burnham has already signalled a more “pragmatic” approach to the North Sea, angering the green wing of his party, and as the Iran war keeps energy prices volatile. Britain’s finances are stretched but far from bankrupt, though the jibe plays into a broader argument about growth before the coming Budget. The president’s pressure to drill more aligns with the industry and unsettles climate campaigners. Whether it helps or hinders Mr Burnham’s balancing act is unclear. Watch how the government handles the transatlantic prodding on energy.