Trump slams UK Net Zero push at UN, questions North Sea oil prospects

In a speech to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Donald Trump used a rambling address to attack climate policy and to single out Britain for its Net Zero agenda, arguing that wind farms and large-scale solar projects are altering landscapes he described as precious. He described climate change as “the greatest con job ever,” and said the United Kingdom’s push toward green energy was wrecking what he called the countryside in Scotland and England. He stated, “I want to stop seeing them ruining that beautiful Scottish and English countryside with windmills and massive solar panels that go seven miles by seven miles, taking away farmland.” He added that the United States would not permit the same in his country, framing the issue as a matter of energy sovereignty.

The remarks framed a broader critique of Britain’s energy policy during a visit that had been billed as a cornerstone of transatlantic relations. Trump’s comments touched on the broader debate over whether aggressive decarbonization timelines hinder energy independence, a topic that has repeatedly roiled U.S. domestic politics. The former president’s UN remarks echoed a longer-running thread in his rhetoric that seeks to paint climate policy as costly and ineffective while promoting domestic energy production.

<img alt="Trump at UN General Assembly" src="https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/09/23/16/102382251-0-image-m-15_1758641048871.jpg" />

Trump also directed attention toward North Sea oil, arguing that it has been “so highly taxed that no developer, no oil company can go there.” He claimed there remains “tremendous oil” left in the North Sea and argued that the region’s energy potential has been hampered by policy choices. He spoke of the North Sea as a strategic asset for the United Kingdom, saying, “They've given up their powerful edge, a lot of the countries that we're talking about, in oil and gas, such as essentially closing the great North Sea oil. Oh, the North Sea. I know it so well.” He referenced his visit with the British prime minister last week, saying he had urged additional drilling and emphasized the value of what he described as a reservoir of oil that could be developed with the right incentives.

Trump reiterated a personal anecdote from his interactions with the Prime Minister, saying, “I was with the Prime Minister – I respect and like a lot – and I said, 'you're sitting with the greatest asset'.” He asserted that North Sea oil remains a major opportunity and suggested that current taxation and regulatory structures were discouraging investment. The remarks appeared to align with the broader U.S. emphasis on securing reliable energy supplies while questioning the economics of aggressive phaseouts of fossil fuels.

The comments came as Downing Street sought to portray the state visit as largely trouble-free. Officials noted that the visit proceeded without major incidents and that Trump largely avoided London’s streets, while he participated in a joint press conference at Chequers with Prime Minister [Name], during which he delivered a series of pointed remarks about Labour’s energy and policy agenda. The White House has faced mixed reactions in Britain, where polls have shown limited enthusiasm for Trump, though Downing Street framed the visit as a successful reaffirmation of the U.S.-U.K. alliance.

Trump did not restrict his critique to energy policy alone. He also attacked Labour’s approach on domestic governance, including a highly publicized allegation regarding London Mayor Sadiq Khan. In remarks that have drawn attention for their specificity, Trump alleged that Khan and Labour leadership would pursue policies that might extend into controversial areas of personal and cultural life in the capital. The assertion added to a broader pattern of Trump’s criticisms of British political figures during the UN appearance and last week’s State Visit.

The remarks at the UN come amid a complicated moment for U.S.-U.K. relations and the broader debate over climate policy globally. While some allies emphasize rapid transition to cleaner energy, others question the pace and cost of those changes, particularly given energy price volatility and geopolitical concerns. Trump’s UN speech amplified a familiar partisan frame in which climate policy is portrayed as economically burdensome and ideologically driven, a stance that resonates with certain domestic audiences but has drawn pushback from allies who emphasize climate resilience and investment in green technology.

Observers note that Trump’s UN remarks, though provocative, fit within a wider pattern of public diplomacy that seeks to cast U.S. leadership as prioritizing energy security and national interest. The UN platform provided a high-profile venue to reiterate those themes, even as observers stressed that the global climate conversation remains contentious and deeply nuanced. In Britain, the response has been to maintain a cautious tone about maintaining the transatlantic alliance while continuing to pursue ambitious climate and energy policies that aim to balance reliability, affordability, and environmental goals.

As the international community continues to grapple with energy and climate policy, Friday’s headlines underscored the enduring divergence in how leaders approach the path forward. For supporters of Net Zero, Trump’s remarks were viewed as an attack on a collective effort to reduce emissions and transform energy systems. For critics of fossil-fuel dependence, the emphasis on North Sea oil and energy independence resonated as a pragmatic counterpoint to rapid decarbonization. In Washington and London alike, officials will likely study the speech’s reception and its potential impact on forthcoming policy debates and diplomatic engagements.