Donald Trump has dramatically shifted his stance over the Chagos Islands deal once again, after lashing out at Sir Keir Starmer for making a “big mistake".
Just hours after the US government announced its support for the UK government’s agreement, the president wrote in a post on social media: “I have been telling prime minister Keir Starmer, of the United Kingdom, that leases are no good when it comes to countries, and that he is making a big mistake by entering a 100 Year Lease.”
The UK is paying £35 billion over the next century to retain control of Diego Garcia as part of its 99-year lease of the islands to Mauritius.
Mr Trump had called the deal an act of "great stupidity" last month before quickly U-turning and saying the agreement was “the best” Sir Keir could strike.
Following Wednesday's latest outburst, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: "The post should be taken as the policy of the Trump administration.”
The Foreign Office defended the deal, saying it was “crucial” to the UK’s security.
Read MoreTrump slates Keir Starmer over Chagos Islands lease deal – in third U-turn on UK deal with Mauritius
Reeves is warned her ‘dysfunctional’ policy on fiscal rules is hindering the economy
Where are the Chagos Islands and why are they so important?
Key Points
- Recap: Trump continues to flip-flop over Chagos Islands deal
- Timeline of Trump's flip-flopping over Chagos Islands deal
- Trump's Chagos Islands defiance is 'utter humiliation' for Starmer
- What caused Trump to U-turn on Chagos Islands deal?
- Farage backs Trump in calls for UK to scrap Chagos Islands deal
Tech firms must remove ‘revenge porn’ in 48 hours or risk being blocked
09:00 , Tara CobhamTech firms will be ordered to remove “revenge porn” within 48 hours or risk being fined or banned from the UK under proposed laws announced by ministers.
Through an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill, the government will make it a legal requirement for companies to take down intimate images shared without a victim's consent no more than 48 hours after it is flagged to them,
If they fail to do, they would face large fines of up to 10 per cent of their global revenue or risk having their services blocked in the UK.
Political reporter Athena Stavrou reports:
Tech firms must remove ‘revenge porn’ in 48 hours or risk being blocked
Chagos interim first minister calls for Starmer to cancel deal
08:45 , Tara CobhamThe interim first minister of the Chagos Islands government has called for Sir Keir Starmer to cancel the UK’s deal to hand sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius, saying: “You could be a hero right now.”
Misley Mandarin told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I’ll say Keir Starmer, as my Prime Minister, you have to look at this treaty again.
“British Chagossian on this island, yesterday you sent patrol to give us removal notice, the island belong to us. Harold Wilson did that… removing the Chagossian from their homeland and that is a stain on British politics but now it’s 2026, Keir Starmer, you could be a hero right now. Don’t ratify that deal, cancel that deal and let Chagossians come back to their homeland as British.”
He is part of a group of four Chagossians who this week returned to the islands, telling the programme: “We came in our homeland and we said that it has to stay British because we are British citizens.”
Mr Mandarin said “there’s no reason” for the UK’s deal “because Mauritius never owned Chagos Islands in the first place”.
“We are British and we are happy,” he told the programme, adding the British would have to “drag me from my beach” if they threaten arrest and removal from the islands.
Chagos conversations with US will continue, minister says
08:30 , Tara CobhamPolitical reporter Athena Stavrou reports:
Sir Keir Starmer will continue diplomatic efforts with the US after Donald Trump hit out at his Chagos Islands deal.
Victims’ minister Alex Davies-Jones said the government is “working closely with the Americans”.
She recalled the US president’s many positions on the deal, saying: “The first meeting that the prime minister had with President Trump, he stated that this was a good deal.
“Just two weeks ago, again, he reiterated that this was the best deal on the table. And just this week, the US administration stated that this was an important deal, and they backed it.
“So we will continue to have those conversations.”
'Nobody is above law': Starmer calls on Andrew to speak to UK and US authorities over Epstein
08:10 , Tara CobhamAndrew Mountbatten-Windsor should speak to the authorities in the UK and US about the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, Sir Keir Starmer has said.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, the Prime Minister said: “Anybody who has any information should testify. So whether it’s Andrew or anybody else, anybody who has got relevant information should come forward to whatever the relevant body is, in this particular case we’re talking about Epstein, but there are plenty of other cases.
“Anybody who has got information relating to any aspect of violence against women and girls has, in my view, a duty to come forward, whoever they are.”
Sir Keir added: “One of the core principles in our system is that everybody is equal under the law, and nobody is above the law, and it is really important that is applied across the board.
“That is the principle. It’s a long-standing principle, it’s a very important principle of our country, our society, and it applies, and it has to apply in this case, in the same way as it would apply in any other case.”
Chagos bill will be brought back to parliament soon, minister says
08:00 , Tara CobhamPolitical reporter Athena Stavrou reports:
A government minister has said the bill ratifying the UK’s Chagos Islands deal will return to parliament soon.
The Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill began making its way through parliament last but is yet to return for its final stages.
Victims’ minister Alex Davies-Jones said the government will be bringing the bill back “as soon as parliamentary time allows”, despite Donald Trump’s most recent criticism.
“Our military base on Diego Garcia is a crucial, vital military asset to ensure that Britain and our citizens here are kept safe,” she told Sky News. “That is the priority for the government.”
Justice minister insists Chagos deal is important for national security
07:45 , Tara CobhamJustice minister Alex Davies-Jones said the UK’s Chagos Islands deal is important for national security, although said she had not been told why.
Speaking to Times Radio, Ms Davies-Jones said she had not been told about much of the activity on the Diego Garcia base, but praised the deal’s significance for the security of the UK and allies.
Ms Davies-Jones said the Bill would be brought back to Parliament “as soon as parliamentary time allows”.
She also said conversations would continue with the US after Donald Trump changed his position on the deal again and said it was a “big mistake”.
Ms Davies-Jones said: “I totally understand how people will be wondering exactly the details of this. There is a lot that happens on that base that not even I know, that a lot of our Government ministers don’t know, and that is vitally important for national security as well. It protects us from terrorism, it is crucial, vital infrastructure for national security, not just here in the UK, but for our allies as well, for our Americans who use that base, and it is important.”
She added: “There’s a lot of things, as I’ve stated, that happen on that base that not even I am privy to. I am entrusted by those who are in operation of that base, our military, our national security agencies who operate that base about how crucial that infrastructure is and our partners across the world as well.”
Analysis: Trump changes his mind on Chagos – again
07:29 , Tara CobhamPolitical reporter Athena Stavrou reports:
The US president launched a fresh attack on the UK’s Chagos Islands deal - just one day after his administration said he supported it.
In a post on social media, Donald Trump told Sir Keir Starmer: “DO NOT GIVE AWAY DIEGO GARCIA!”
He called the deal “a big mistake”, and said the lease arrangement for the UK-US military base there was “no good”.
The u-turn may have confused diplomats, as just yesterday the US State Department said it supported the deal.
And earlier in February, Mr Trump personally backed the proposals, saying Sir Keir’s deal was “the best he could make”.
That statement came a week after the US president had described the deal as “an act of great stupidity”, despite his administration originally backing the agreement.
Tory MP lobbied Trump administration on Chagos Deal last week
07:02 , Harriette BoucherSir Iain Duncan Smith might have had involvement in Donald Trump’s U-turn on Chagos Islands deal after lobbying the Trump administration on the issue last week.
The former Tory leader is understood to have met key figures from the White House, national security council and departments of war and state, Sky News said.
In a post on social media, he said: “President Trump is absolutely right to tell Starmer to abandon the terrible chagos deal with Mauritius.
“POTUS understands how strategically important the airbase at Diego Garcia is. It is a bad deal that would cost UK taxpayers £34.7 billion.
“There was never any legal reason for us to enter into any agreement with Mauritius...none at all. The Chagossian people should be allowed to return to their islands as British citizens, with control over their domestic affairs.”
Ed Davey calls for closer ties to Europe amid Trump's Chagos Islands comments
06:00 , Harriette BoucherDonald Trump's position change on the Chagos Islands deal shows that the UK needed to pursue closer relations with Europe, Sir Ed Davey said.
In a statement on X, the Liberal Democrat leader said: "Trump's endless flip-flopping on the Chagos Islands shows why Starmer's approach is doomed to fail.
"Britain can't rely on the US while Trump is in the White House. It's time to strengthen our ties with allies we can depend on, starting with our neighbours in Europe."
Recap: Trump continues to flip-flop over Chagos Islands deal
05:00 , Harriette BoucherThe Independent’s White House Correspondent Andrew Feinberg:
President Trump on Wednesday said he has now been urging Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer not to go through with handing control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius because the proposed 100-year lease on Diego Garcia (where a key British-American air base is located) would be a "big mistake."
In a post on Truth Social, the former real estate mogul says he's been telling Mr Starmer that "leases are no good when it comes to countries" and accused him of "losing control of this important Island by claims of entities never known of before" while calling Mauritius' claims over the islands "fictitious in nature."
Mr Trump also suggested that Diego Garcia would be used in any U.S. action against Iran "in order to eradicate a potential attack by a highly unstable and dangerous Regime — An attack that would potentially be made on the United Kingdom, as well as other friendly Countries."
"Prime Minister Starmer should not lose control, for any reason, of Diego Garcia, by entering a tenuous, at best, 100 Year Lease. This land should not be taken away from the U.K. and, if it is allowed to be, it will be a blight on our Great Ally," he said.
Mr Trump added that the U.S. would "always be ready, willing and able to fight for the U.K." while urging London to "remain strong in the face of Wokeism, and other problems put before them."
The president's outburst is the latest in a whipsawing series of position changes over the Chagos agreement and the Diego Garcia lease.
Trump previously criticised the agreement in a social media rant last month in which he accused Mr Starmer of "great stupidity" for carrying out the plan to cede control of the Chagos and linked the agreement to his desire to annex Greenland for the United States over the objections of Denmark and the rest of Nato.
But he reversed course weeks later by describing the agreement as “the best” the Labour leader could strike.
A complete timeline of Trump's flip-flopping over Chagos Islands deal:
04:01 , Harriette BoucherDonald Trump has hit out at Keir Starmer, saying he is making a huge mistake with the Chagos Islands deal.
It is yet another flip-flop from the US president, who has previously supported the agreement.
Here is a timeline of his administration’s U-turns:
Trump says Chagos Islands talks “going to work out very well”
In February 2025, Trump indicated he would be prepared to back the deal, saying: "They're talking about a very long-term, powerful lease, a very strong lease, about 140 years actually.
"That's a long time, and I think we'll be inclined to go along with your country."
Speaking in the Oval Office alongside Starmer, he said: “We’re going to have some discussions about that very soon, and I have a feeling it’s going to work out very well.”
Trump “welcomes” the deal
Following the announcement of the deal in May, Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, said: “President Trump has welcomed the deal along with other allies, because they see the strategic importance of this base and that we cannot cede the ground to others who would seek to do us harm.
“Following a comprehensive interagency review, the Trump Administration determined that this agreement secures the long-term, stable, and effective operation of the joint U.S.-UK military facility at Diego Garcia.”
Trump brands Chagos Islands deal an “act of great stupidity”
In January, Trump launched an attack on Starmer, saying: “The UK giving away extremely important land is an act of GREAT STUPIDITY, and is another in a very long line of National Security reasons why Greenland has to be acquired.”
Trump says deal is best Starmer could get
In February, Trump again backtracked, and signalled his support for the deal, saying it was the “best he could make”
In a post on Truth Social, Mr Trump said: “I understand that the deal Prime Minister Starmer has made, according to many, (is) the best he could make.”
US State Department “supports” Chagos agreement
On Tuesday The US State Department on Tuesday said it “supports the decision of the United Kingdom to proceed with its agreement with Mauritius concerning the Chagos archipelago”.
Trump's Chagos Islands defiance is 'utter humiliation' for Starmer
03:00 , Harriette BoucherDonald Trump’s opposition of Keir Starmer’s Chagos Islands deal is “utter humiliation” for the prime minister, the shadow foreign secretary has stated.
Dame Priti Patel said: "President Trump has once again publicly rebuked Keir Starmer and his Government over their ill-judged, unnecessary and expensive Chagos Surrender. This is an utter humiliation for Starmer.
"It's time Starmer finally saw sense, u-turned and scrapped this appalling deal altogether. Giving up British sovereign territory to an ally of China and paying for the privilege is irresponsible and reckless and is clearly undermining our relationship with our most important ally.
"While Starmer, Labour and their leftie lawyer friends threaten to undermine our security and defence, the Conservatives will keep fighting against the Chagos Surrender for as long as it takes."
Where are the Chagos Islands and why are they so important?
02:00 , Harriette BoucherLast year, Sir Keir agreed a deal to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, while retaining control of the UK-US military base on the island of Diego Garcia.
In return, the UK has been promised a 99-year lease on the base, in return for an average annual fee of £101m in current prices. The government estimates this will mean a total cost of £3.4bn.
These islands are currently governed by the UK as the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), and have been in some form since 1814. In 1965, the UK and US officially detached the islands from Mauritius for joint defence purposes, creating a separate colony and forcibly removing native Chagossians soon after.
Mauritius will be free to arrange the resettlement of Chagossians on all islands in the archipelago under the terms, except for Diego Garcia.
What is the UK’s Chagos Islands deal and why has Starmer delayed it?
What caused Trump to U-turn on Chagos Islands deal?
01:00 , Harriette BoucherAnalysis by The Independent’s White House Correspondent Andrew Feinberg:
It's unclear what has triggered Mr Trump's latest switcharoo on the Chagos deal and plans to lease back Diego Garcia, but the agreement has been the subject of much transatlantic hand-wringing even before the president's 2024 election victory over Kamala Harris.
In the months before American voters chose to return Trump to power after four years in political exile following his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden, legal experts aligned with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage drew up advice that was fed to Mr Trump with the aim of having him scuttle the deal if given the chance.
Yet Mr Trump signaled his assent to the agreement last February during an Oval Office meeting with Mr Starmer in which he said he "had a feeling it is going to work out very well" and said he thought he'd be "inclined to go along" with the agreement despite a fierce lobbying campaign against it by Mr Farage and others.
In the year since, he has flip-flopped several times, most recently today when he again claimed to oppose the Chagos handover while urging the U.K. to "remain strong in the face of Wokeism, and other problems put before them."
White House officials aren't saying what has prompted the president's latest change of heart, but his invocation of "wokeism" is a strong indicator that he now sees the planned handover to an African government as something akin to the reparations that many American progressives say are owed to the descendants of slaves.
Explanations from No. 10 that have been based on invoking international law to justify the deal are also likely falling flat with Mr Trump, who has spent much of his first year in office pushing for the U.S. to annex Greenland, the sovereign territory of a Nato ally, Denmark.
Watch: Trump says he's 'against' the UK's Chagos deal in January
00:00 , Harriette BoucherDonald Trump U-turned on the Chagos Islands deal in January after previously supporting the agreement.
He then came out in support of the deal again in February, before backtracking again on Wednesday.
Tory MP lobbied Trump administration on Chagos Deal last week
Wednesday 18 February 2026 23:01 , Harriette BoucherSir Iain Duncan Smith might have had involvement in Donald Trump’s U-turn on Chagos Islands deal after lobbying the Trump administration on the issue last week.
The former Tory leader is understood to have met key figures from the White House, national security council and departments of war and state, Sky News said.
In a post on social media, he said: “President Trump is absolutely right to tell Starmer to abandon the terrible chagos deal with Mauritius.
“POTUS understands how strategically important the airbase at Diego Garcia is. It is a bad deal that would cost UK taxpayers £34.7 billion.
“There was never any legal reason for us to enter into any agreement with Mauritius...none at all. The Chagossian people should be allowed to return to their islands as British citizens, with control over their domestic affairs.”
Farage backs Trump in calls for UK to scrap Chagos Islands deal
Wednesday 18 February 2026 23:00 , Harriette BoucherNigel Farage has supported Donald Trump’s calls for Keir Starmer to scrap the Chagos Islands deal, which the US president said was a “big mistake".
“Keir Starmer risks alienating our most important ally by giving away the Chagos Islands, the worst deal in British history,” the leader of Reform said.
“President Trump is right to say the Prime Minister is making a big mistake. Starmer must cancel this deal.”
Starmer previously said Trump U-turned on Chagos Deal over Greenland
Wednesday 18 February 2026 22:30 , Harriette BoucherKeir Starmer previously accused Donald Trump of backtracking on the Chagos Islands deal in an attempt to apply pressure on the prime minister over his position on Greenland.
Donald Trump, who has sought to annex the territory, changed his mind last month on the deal and said it was “an act of great stupidity”.
Speaking at PMQs last month, Starmer said: “President Trump deployed words on Chagos yesterday that were different to his previous words of welcome and support when I met him in the White House.
“He deployed those words yesterday for the express purpose of putting pressure on me and Britain in relation to my values and principles on the future of Greenland.
“He wants me to yield on my position, and I'm not going to do so.”
Donald Trump's statement on Chagos Islands deal in full:
Wednesday 18 February 2026 22:03 , Harriette Boucher“I have been telling Prime Minister Keir Starmer, of the United Kingdom, that Leases are no good when it comes to Countries, and that he is making a big mistake by entering a 100 Year Lease with whoever it is that is ‘claiming’ Right, Title, and Interest to Diego Garcia, strategically located in the Indian Ocean.
“Our relationship with the United Kingdom is a strong and powerful one, and it has been for many years, but Prime Minister Starmer is losing control of this important Island by claims of entities never known of before.
“In our opinion, they are fictitious in nature. Should Iran decide not to make a Deal, it may be necessary for the United States to use Diego Garcia, and the Airfield located in Fairford, in order to eradicate a potential attack by a highly unstable and dangerous Regime — An attack that would potentially be made on the United Kingdom, as well as other friendly Countries. Prime Minister Starmer should not lose control, for any reason, of Diego Garcia, by entering a tenuous, at best, 100 Year Lease.
“This land should not be taken away from the U.K. and, if it is allowed to be, it will be a blight on our Great Ally.
“We will always be ready, willing, and able to fight for the U.K., but they have to remain strong in the face of Wokeism, and other problems put before them. DO NOT GIVE AWAY DIEGO GARCIA!”
Trump slates Starmer over Chagos deal: full report
Wednesday 18 February 2026 20:51 , Jane Dalton Trump slates Starmer over Chagos Islands lease deal – in third U-turn
A complete timeline of Trump's flip-flopping over Chagos Islands deal:
Wednesday 18 February 2026 20:40 , Harriette BoucherDonald Trump has hit out at Keir Starmer, saying he is making a huge mistake with the Chagos Islands deal.
It is yet another flip-flop from the US president, who has previously supported the agreement.
Here is a timeline of his administration’s U-turns:
Trump says Chagos Islands talks “going to work out very well”
In February 2025, Trump indicated he would be prepared to back the deal, saying: "They're talking about a very long-term, powerful lease, a very strong lease, about 140 years actually.
"That's a long time, and I think we'll be inclined to go along with your country."
Speaking in the Oval Office alongside Starmer, he said: “We’re going to have some discussions about that very soon, and I have a feeling it’s going to work out very well.”
Trump “welcomes” the deal
Following the announcement of the deal in May, Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, said: “President Trump has welcomed the deal along with other allies, because they see the strategic importance of this base and that we cannot cede the ground to others who would seek to do us harm.
“Following a comprehensive interagency review, the Trump Administration determined that this agreement secures the long-term, stable, and effective operation of the joint U.S.-UK military facility at Diego Garcia.”
Trump brands Chagos Islands deal an “act of great stupidity”
In January, Trump launched an attack on Starmer, saying: “The UK giving away extremely important land is an act of GREAT STUPIDITY, and is another in a very long line of National Security reasons why Greenland has to be acquired.”
Trump says deal is best Starmer could get
In February, Trump again backtracked, and signalled his support for the deal, saying it was the “best he could make”
In a post on Truth Social, Mr Trump said: “I understand that the deal Prime Minister Starmer has made, according to many, (is) the best he could make.”
US State Department “supports” agreement
On Tuesday The US State Department on Tuesday said it “supports the decision of the United Kingdom to proceed with its agreement with Mauritius concerning the Chagos archipelago”.
Foreign office defends Chagos Islands deal
Wednesday 18 February 2026 20:26 , Harriette BoucherThe UK’s foreign office has said the Chagos Islands deal is crucial for UK security in response to Donald Trump’s criticisms earlier.
A FCDO spokesperson said: “The deal to secure the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia military is crucial to the security of the UK and our key allies, and to keeping the British people safe.
“The agreement we have reached is the only way to guarantee the long-term future of this vital military base.”
What caused Trump to U-turn on Chagos Islands deal?
Wednesday 18 February 2026 20:23 , Harriette BoucherAnalysis by The Independent’s White House Correspondent Andrew Feinberg:
It's unclear what has triggered Mr Trump's latest switcharoo on the Chagos deal and plans to lease back Diego Garcia, but the agreement has been the subject of much transatlantic hand-wringing even before the president's 2024 election victory over Kamala Harris.
In the months before American voters chose to return Trump to power after four years in political exile following his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden, legal experts aligned with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage drew up advice that was fed to Mr Trump with the aim of having him scuttle the deal if given the chance.
Yet Mr Trump signaled his assent to the agreement last February during an Oval Office meeting with Mr Starmer in which he said he "had a feeling it is going to work out very well" and said he thought he'd be "inclined to go along" with the agreement despite a fierce lobbying campaign against it by Mr Farage and others.
In the year since, he has flip-flopped several times, most recently today when he again claimed to oppose the Chagos handover while urging the U.K. to "remain strong in the face of Wokeism, and other problems put before them."
White House officials aren't saying what has prompted the president's latest change of heart, but his invocation of "wokeism" is a strong indicator that he now sees the planned handover to an African government as something akin to the reparations that many American progressives say are owed to the descendants of slaves.
Explanations from No. 10 that have been based on invoking international law to justify the deal are also likely falling flat with Mr Trump, who has spent much of his first year in office pushing for the U.S. to annex Greenland, the sovereign territory of a Nato ally, Denmark.
What is the UK’s Chagos Islands deal and why has Starmer delayed it?
Wednesday 18 February 2026 19:58 , Harriette BoucherLast year, Sir Keir agreed a deal to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, while retaining control of the UK-US military base on the island of Diego Garcia.
In return, the UK has been promised a 99-year lease on the base, in return for an average annual fee of £101m in current prices. The government estimates this will mean a total cost of £3.4bn.
These islands are currently governed by the UK as the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), and have been in some form since 1814. In 1965, the UK and US officially detached the islands from Mauritius for joint defence purposes, creating a separate colony and forcibly removing native Chagossians soon after.
Mauritius will be free to arrange the resettlement of Chagossians on all islands in the archipelago under the terms, except for Diego Garcia.
What is the UK’s Chagos Islands deal and why has Starmer delayed it?
Trump's Chagos Islands defiance is 'utter humiliation' for Starmer
Wednesday 18 February 2026 19:57 , Harriette BoucherDonald Trump’s criticism of Keir Starmer’s Chagos Islands deal is “utter humiliation” for the prime minister, the shadow foreign secretary said.
In a statement, Dame Priti Patel said: "President Trump has once again publicly rebuked Keir Starmer and his Government over their ill-judged, unnecessary and expensive Chagos Surrender. This is an utter humiliation for Starmer.
"It's time Starmer finally saw sense, u-turned and scrapped this appalling deal altogether. Giving up British sovereign territory to an ally of China and paying for the privilege is irresponsible and reckless and is clearly undermining our relationship with our most important ally.
"While Starmer, Labour and their leftie lawyer friends threaten to undermine our security and defence, the Conservatives will keep fighting against the Chagos Surrender for as long as it takes."
Ed Davey calls for closer ties to Europe amid Trump's Chagos Islands comments
Wednesday 18 February 2026 19:54 , Harriette BoucherDonald Trump's position change on the Chagos Islands deal shows that the UK needed to pursue closer relations with Europe, Sir Ed Davey said.
In a statement on X, the Liberal Democrat leader said: "Trump's endless flip-flopping on the Chagos Islands shows why Starmer's approach is doomed to fail.
"Britain can't rely on the US while Trump is in the White House. It's time to strengthen our ties with allies we can depend on, starting with our neighbours in Europe."
US gave green light on Chagos Islands deal on Tuesday
Wednesday 18 February 2026 19:47 , Harriette BoucherDonald Trump’s comments criticising Keir Starmer’s Chagos Islands deal follow an endorsement from the US State Department just hours beforehand.
On Tuesday, the department said it "supports the decision of the United Kingdom to proceed with its agreement with Mauritius concerning the Chagos archipelago".
In a post on Truth Social on Wednesday, Mr Trump urged Starmer against the deal, saying it would be a "a big mistake”.
Trump continues to flip-flop over Chagos Islands deal
Wednesday 18 February 2026 19:23 , Harriette BoucherThe Independent’s White House Correspondent Andrew Feinberg:
President Trump on Wednesday said he has now been urging Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer not to go through with handing control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius because the proposed 100-year lease on Diego Garcia (where a key British-American air base is located) would be a "big mistake."
In a post on Truth Social, the former real estate mogul says he's been telling Mr Starmer that "leases are no good when it comes to countries" and accused him of "losing control of this important Island by claims of entities never known of before" while calling Mauritius' claims over the islands "fictitious in nature."
Mr Trump also suggested that Diego Garcia would be used in any U.S. action against Iran "in order to eradicate a potential attack by a highly unstable and dangerous Regime — An attack that would potentially be made on the United Kingdom, as well as other friendly Countries."
"Prime Minister Starmer should not lose control, for any reason, of Diego Garcia, by entering a tenuous, at best, 100 Year Lease. This land should not be taken away from the U.K. and, if it is allowed to be, it will be a blight on our Great Ally," he said.
Mr Trump added that the U.S. would "always be ready, willing and able to fight for the U.K." while urging London to "remain strong in the face of Wokeism, and other problems put before them."
The president's outburst is the latest in a whipsawing series of position changes over the Chagos agreement and the Diego Garcia lease.
Trump previously criticised the agreement in a social media rant last month in which he accused Mr Starmer of "great stupidity" for carrying out the plan to cede control of the Chagos and linked the agreement to his desire to annex Greenland for the United States over the objections of Denmark and the rest of Nato.
But he reversed course weeks later by describing the agreement as “the best” the Labour leader could strike.
Trump says Diego Garcia will be necessary if Iran doesn't agree to a deal
Wednesday 18 February 2026 19:18 , Harriette BoucherDonald Trump has said Chagos Islands Diego Garcia, where the US-UK military base is, will be necessary if Iran doesn’t make a deal with the US.
In a post on Truth Social, the US president said: “Should Iran decide not to make a Deal, it may be necessary for the United States to use Diego Garcia, and the Airfield located in Fairford, in order to eradicate a potential attack by a highly unstable and dangerous Regime.”
The US is currently in nuclear talks with Iran and has threatened military action against the country.
White House press secretary says Trump comments should be taken as policy of administration
Wednesday 18 February 2026 19:07 , Harriette BoucherKaroline Leavitt has said Donald Trump’s post urging Starmer to back out of the Chagos Islands deal should be taken as the policy of the Trump administration.
She said: “It's coming straight from the horse's mouth when you see it on truth social, you know it's directly from President Trump.
“That's the beauty of this President and his transparency and and relaying this administration's policies to all of you and to the rest of the world."
Trump warns Starmer 'making a big mistake' with Chagos Islands deal
Wednesday 18 February 2026 19:00 , Harriette BoucherDonald Trump has called out Keir Starmer for making a “big mistake” with the Chagos Islands deal.
In a post on social media, the US president said: “I have been telling Prime Minister Keir Starmer, of the United Kingdom, that Leases are no good when it comes to Countries, and that he is making a big mistake by entering a 100 Year Lease with whoever it is that is ‘claiming’ Right, Title, and Interest to Diego Garcia, strategically located in the Indian Ocean.
“Our relationship with the United Kingdom is a strong and powerful one, and it has been for many years, but Prime Minister Starmer is losing control of this important Island by claims of entities never known of before. In our opinion, they are fictitious in nature.”
Why does Reform want to tear up the vote-winning Equality Act?
Wednesday 18 February 2026 18:45 , Maryam Zakir-HussainThe latest stage in Nigel Farage’s ever-growing ‘war on woke’ could help propel him to Downing Street – and will make life worse for everyone, not just wheelchair-users like me, says James Moore:
Why does Reform want to tear up the vote-winning Equality Act?
Reform would make 'full use' of North Sea oil, Jenrick claims
Wednesday 18 February 2026 17:45 , Maryam Zakir-HussainA future Reform UK government would make "full use" of North Sea oil, Robert Jenrick has claimed.
He said: "When Westminster got swept away with net zero fanaticism, Richard Tice was a lonely voice of common sense."
Mr Jenrick, the Reform UK Treasury spokesman, said: "You can trust Reform to scrap the impossible targets that are driving energy costs through the roof, the farce of paying vast amounts of cash for intermittent and unreliable energy delivered at the wrong times."
The Conservative defector said his new party would make "full use of the gold buried in the North Sea to keep the lights on and bring in revenue".
Strategic industries including steel and car-making will be protected under Reform UK
Wednesday 18 February 2026 17:45 , Maryam Zakir-HussainStrategic industries including steel and car-making will be protected under Reform UK, as the party's Treasury spokesman said China will benefit from jobs being lost in Britain.
Robert Jenrick said businesses will be forced to hire British workers rather than recruiting from overseas as he outlined the party's broad industrial strategy.
He said the world had "fundamentally changed" and Britain's "trade posture" has to adapt.
Mr Jenrick said: "Free trade with our friends and allies is advantageous, but we must respond robustly when our rivals consistently cheat the system and leverage dependencies to our disadvantage.
"A Government led by Nigel Farage will never display the weakness Keir Starmer showed towards China. We will never ignore the interplay between economics and security, as some in the Conservative Party wish to do."
He continued: "Reform do not believe in picking winners, but, yes, we do believe in an industrial strategy to protect our strategic industries like steel, defence and car-making.
"Because unless we change course now, we will trade a car made in Sunderland for a car made in Shenzhen. The Chinese building their middle class on the backs of ours, and Reform we will never allow that to happen.
"We believe in levelling the playing fields so that British businesses can succeed. But we are not going to sit back if British businesses are being cheated or our critical industries should go extinct. We're going to salvage them, we're going to rebuild them."
A Reform UK government would peruse 'serious delegation' - Jenrick
Wednesday 18 February 2026 17:15 , Maryam Zakir-HussainA future Reform UK government would peruse "serious deregulation", Robert Jenrick has said.
But the former Tory MP said he had not yet decided on what fiscal rules his new party would set out.
He told the press conference: "We're going to pursue serious deregulation in all sectors, from small businesses right the way up to the city, and we're going to be spending the weeks and the months ahead developing those policies.
"But you can be assured this is going to be a big change, and the balance we're going to strike is exactly what I set out at the end of my remarks.
"We're going to be conservative when it comes to preserving what's important, like fiscal responsibility and stability in the economy.
"But we are going to be radical where we need to be, to shake up this economy, shake it out of its malaise and get it going again.
"We're not going to make up fiscal rules on the first day in my role," the Reform UK Treasury spokesman added.
Police probe claims Labour bribed voters with food to support by-election candidate
Wednesday 18 February 2026 16:50 , Maryam Zakir-HussainPolice are investigating claims Labour tried to bribe voters with food in an upcoming Westminster by-election.
The probe comes after a video emerged of an event where attendees were told to hold up posters “if you want to get fed”.
The dinner is thought to have been organised as part of Labour’s campaign to win next week’s Gorton and Denton by-election.
A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police told The Independent: “We are aware and investigations are ongoing.”
Read more here:
Police probe claims Labour bribed voters with food to support by-election candidate
Inflation is falling - so what does that mean for my mortgage or savings?
Wednesday 18 February 2026 16:20 , Maryam Zakir-HussainInflation has been a tough nut to crack in the UK over the past two years, but is firmly on the downward path and at the start of 2026 finally looks like it is within sight of its intended landing spot.
After falling then rising once more last year, Consumer Prices Index (CPI) figures for January came in at 3 per cent, the lowest level in 11 months and on track to hit the 2 per cent target by spring.
While the rate is lowering, remember, that does not mean prices are coming down - it means they are rising more slowly than previously.
Read more here:
What does falling inflation mean for my savings and mortgage?
Farage accused of ‘divisive politics’ over unproven claim middle class white men are losing jobs because of Equality Act
Wednesday 18 February 2026 16:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainNigel Farage has been accused of "playing into short-sighted, divisive politics" after making unproven claims that middle-class, white men are losing jobs because of the Equality Act.
His claim came just a day after Suella Braverman, Reform UK’s new equality and education chief, promised to scrap the act on day one if her party won the next election, claiming that Britain is being “ripped apart by diversity, equality and inclusion” policies.
The Equality Act 2010 – which replaced previous anti-discrimination laws – legally protects people with protected characteristics, including: age, disability, gender reassignment, marital status, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation, from discrimination in the workplace and in wider society.
Farage condemned for unproven claim white men are losing jobs because of Equality Act
If Robert Jenrick applied to be my chancellor, I’d laugh his CV out the door
Wednesday 18 February 2026 15:37 , Maryam Zakir-HussainBetter known for owning so many houses that he couldn’t decide which one to lock down in under Covid regulations, the new shining star of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK is even less qualified for the most important job in the country than the current incumbent, says John Rentoul:
What on earth makes Robert Jenrick qualified to be chancellor? The man who would be running the nation’s treasury was supposedly awarded the title of “Reform’s shadow chancellor” by Nigel Farage because he was the “most anti-Truss” choice available. Unlike Farage himself, Jenrick did not praise Liz Truss’s mini-Budget as “the best Conservative Budget since 1986”. So that’s a plus.
Read more here:
If Robert Jenrick applied to be my chancellor, I’d laugh him out the door