The leader of the United Kingdom’s Liberal Democrats, Ed Davey, has sharply criticised United States President Donald Trump, describing him as an “international gangster” and the most corrupt president in American history.
Davey made the remarks during a parliamentary session on Tuesday, warning that Trump’s actions pose a serious danger to the United Kingdom, Europe and the global order.
He accused the U.S. president of pursuing aggressive policies that undermine allied nations and destabilise international security.
According to Davey, Trump has threatened the sovereignty of long-standing allies, questioned the future of NATO and imposed the risk of punitive tariffs on Britain and several European countries unless his administration gains control over Greenland.
He said the U.S. president’s conduct amounted to an unprovoked attack on Britain’s economy and national security, stressing that British businesses and workers were being placed at risk by Washington’s posture.
Davey further argued that Trump’s actions were benefiting America’s geopolitical rivals, claiming that leaders such as Russia’s Vladimir Putin and China’s Xi Jinping stood to gain from growing divisions between Western allies.
The Liberal Democrats leader also criticised the UK government’s approach to the White House, accusing the Prime Minister of pursuing a policy of appeasement rather than standing firm against Trump’s threats.
He said attempts to flatter and placate the U.S. president over the past year had failed and left Britain more exposed.
Davey described Trump’s leadership style as coercive, alleging that he relied on intimidation and force to achieve his objectives.
He said the international community faced a clear choice between yielding to pressure or confronting the U.S. president’s actions directly.
He concluded by urging the UK government to adopt a tougher and more assertive stance, as political debate intensifies over how Britain and its European partners should respond to Trump’s trade threats, foreign policy direction and approach to long-standing alliances.
Trump had earlier threatened heavy tariffs against the United Kingdom and several European countries in connection with his administration’s position on Greenland.
While European leaders have pledged resistance, the precise measures to counter the threats remain unclear, with the U.S. president insisting he will not reverse his stance.
