UK leader calls Trump an “international gangster” in parliament

Trump faces sharp UK criticism after threatening tariffs on allies over Greenland, with Ed Davey warning the US-UK relationship is fraying

PGurus Newsdesk

January 20, 2026

Trump faces UK backlash as Ed Davey slams US tariffs and Greenland plan

UK leader brands Trump an “international gangster” amid Greenland tariff row

A senior UK opposition leader has launched a blistering attack on US President Donald Trump, calling him an “international gangster”, a “bully” and “the most corrupt president the United States has ever seen”, as tensions rise over Washington’s tariff threats linked to Greenland.

Speaking in the UK Parliament, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey accused Trump of pursuing coercive foreign policy tactics against allies, warning that the long-standing “special relationship” between the United Kingdom and the United States is “nearly in tatters”.

Davey’s remarks came in response to Trump’s recent threat to impose tariffs ranging from 10 to 25 per cent on imports from several European countries, including the UK, from February. The proposed duties target nations backing Denmark’s refusal to engage with Washington over Trump’s proposal to “buy” or annex Greenland.

Calling the current moment “incredibly grave”, Davey said Trump was threatening to undermine allied sovereignty and destabilise NATO.

“President Trump is acting like an international gangster,” Davey told lawmakers, accusing the US leader of trying to trample over the sovereignty of allies and using economic pressure as a tool of intimidation.

The Liberal Democrat leader also described Trump as a bully who believes he can “grab whatever he wants using force if necessary”, arguing that such behaviour only benefits global rivals Russia and China.

“The only people cheering him on are Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping,” Davey said.

Davey criticised successive UK governments for what he described as appeasement of Trump, accusing both Labour and previous Conservative administrations of flattering and indulging the US president rather than confronting his actions.

The latest tensions have been further inflamed by Trump’s social media posts showing fabricated images of the US flag planted in Greenland and maps depicting Greenland and Canada as part of the United States.

Trump has also escalated disputes with France, threatening 200 per cent tariffs on French wine and champagne after Paris indicated it would not join his proposed “Board of Peace”, an initiative Trump claims would address global conflicts, starting with Gaza. France has condemned the tariff threats as unacceptable and ineffective.

European officials have increasingly voiced concern that Trump’s approach risks undermining international institutions and the post-war global order.

Despite the backlash, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has sought to downplay the fallout, urging allies to “take a deep breath” and insisting that transatlantic relations remain strong.

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