Trump calls UK's Chagos Islands handover 'great stupidity,' links to Greenland acquisition push

President Trump reversed his administration's previous support for the UK's decision to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, calling it 'an act of great stupidity' in a Truth Social post. Trump linked the UK's decision to his push for the U.S. to acquire Greenland, arguing it demonstrated weakness that China and Russia would exploit. The Chagos archipelago includes Diego Garcia, home to a strategically important U.S.-UK military base in the Indian Ocean that provides critical positioning for U.S. military operations in the Middle East and Indo-Pacific region. Trump's criticism came despite his administration having previously supported the deal in 2025, which was intended to provide legal certainty for the military facility's operation through a 99-year lease agreement. The attack on UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer coincided with Trump's threats of tariffs against European nations, including Denmark, over opposition to his Greenland acquisition plans.

"an act of great stupidity" — Trump's characterization of the UK's decision to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, posted on Truth Social while simultaneously promoting his Greenland acquisition campaign