Diplomatic tensions between the United Kingdom and the United States are escalating sharply after U.S. President Donald Trump launched a direct verbal attack on UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Beyond calling for Starmer’s resignation, Trump also threatened to impose heavy tariffs on Britain if it does not scrap its Digital Services Tax targeting American tech giants.

Call for Starmer to Resign

In what was reported as a phone interview with the BBC, Donald Trump made an unusually direct intervention in UK domestic politics. As Starmer’s government struggles with the ongoing scandal surrounding the appointment of Peter Mandelson, Trump bluntly заявил that the Prime Minister “has no chance” and “has to go.”

The remarks mark a significant escalation in the war of words between the two leaders. Previously, Starmer had compared Trump to Neville Chamberlain—known for his policy of appeasement—rather than Winston Churchill.

Commenting on the ambassadorial controversy, Trump also mocked the decision to appoint Mandelson, agreeing it was “a really bad pick.” However, he suggested Starmer could still salvage his political future if he decisively addressed the UK’s immigration crisis.

Threat of Retaliatory Tariffs

The dispute extends beyond personal criticism into economic confrontation. Trump issued a public ultimatum over the UK’s Digital Services Tax—a 2% levy introduced in 2020 targeting revenues of major U.S. technology companies to address perceived tax imbalances.

Speaking to reporters, Trump emphasized his duty to defend American businesses: “We don’t like them targeting American companies… They think they can get easy money. If they don’t drop this tax, we may put a very big tariff on the United Kingdom. They’d better be careful.”

He added that the U.S. could respond with equal or greater measures, potentially imposing tariffs of 5% to 10%. Trump also pointed to his previous economic record to underscore his commitment to protecting U.S. trade interests.

Dismissal of Prince Harry’s Comments

During the same press interaction, Trump was asked about Prince Harry’s call for the U.S. to do more to help end the war in Ukraine. Trump responded with a dismissive tone, offering a polite greeting to Meghan Markle before quipping: “One thing I know—Prince Harry certainly doesn’t speak for the United Kingdom… I think I might be speaking for the UK more than he does.”

These rapid developments from the White House are pushing Starmer’s government into a multidimensional crisis—forcing it to navigate mounting domestic pressure while attempting to preserve one of its most crucial economic and diplomatic alliances with the United States.