Donald Trump today described Britain’s aircraft carriers as ‘toys compared to what we have’ in his latest swipe at the UK’s lack of support for his war against Iran.
In yet another sign of the deep freeze consuming the transatlantic ‘special relationship’ the president lashed out at the Royal Navy’s capabilities in a rant against US Nato allies.
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Thursday, the US President said: ‘The British said “we’ll send our aircraft carriers” – which aren’t the best aircraft carriers by the way, they are toys compared to what we have – “we’ll send our aircraft carrier when the war is over”. I said “that’s wonderful, thank you very much – don’t bother”.’
He also said he was ‘very disappointed’ by the Prime Minister’s decision at the start of the conflict not to permit the use of the UK-US Diego Garcia base to target Iran using ‘that beautiful B2 bomber’.
The president’s remarks come after Downing Street rejected Trump’s previous claims that it offered to send either HMS Queen Elizabeth or the fleet flagship HMS Prince of Wales to the Middle East.
Sir Keir Starmer is becoming increasingly reluctant to allow the UK to be dragged into the conflict which has triggered a surge in energy prices.
However it comes at a time when the Royal Navy’s ability to wage war and defend Britain is being thrown further into doubt, after we had to ask Germany for the use of a warship to keep a major Nato commitment.
Berlin has deployed the frigate Sachsen with a British officer in command as the flagship of an alliance maritime task group in place of HMS Dragon, which was sent to help defend Cyprus from Iranian attacks.
Defence Secretary John Healey was this morning unable to say how many of the Royal Navy’s surface fleet of 17 frigates and destroyers is currently fit to fight, when grilled over the state of the service.
But he admitted he was ‘not happy with the situation we have with British warships’.
President Donald Trump speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the White House, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Washington. He described Britain’s aircraft carriers as ‘toys’ in his latest swipe at the UK
The US President’s remarks come after Downing Street previously rejected Trump’s claims that it offered to send aircraft carriers to the war. Pictured: HMS Prince of Wales
Trump also said that the Iranian attack on the Diego Garcia military base last week shows the capabilities Iran has.
He said: ‘They shot at the now famous island, the island which the UK was really afraid to give us because they didn’t want to get dragged in, well, we don’t want to get dragged into their wars either.
‘One thing we are very disappointed with is Nato because Nato has done absolutely nothing.’
Trump also took to social media to continue his attacks on Nato for failing to assist in the US and Israeli strikes on Iran, as the conflict nears its one-month mark.
Writing in a Truth Social post this morning, the president said: ‘NATO nations have done absolutely nothing to help with the lunatic nation, now militarily decimated, of Iran.
‘The USA needs nothing from NATO, but “Never Forget” this very important point in time,’ he added.
The US President’s remarks about Nato and Britain come after he previously said that Sir Keir is ‘no Winston Churchill’ while fuming at the Prime Minister’s reluctance to allow America to use British bases to launch attacks on Tehran.
Last week, the UK gave American forces the green light to run ‘defensive’ operations from its military sites, such as Diego Garcia.
Sir Keir also extended that to action, aiming to reopen the crucial Strait of Hormuz – amid mounting panic over choked off oil supplies.
However, the PM assured Cyprus that RAF Akrotiri will not be used for strikes.
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It came as Sir Keir again refused to say when he will reveal the much-delayed blueprint for increasing spending on the UK’s Armed Forces, even as he warned of the threat posed by Russia to world peace.
Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge told the Daily Mail the situation was ‘a complete shambles’.
It also comes as Trump threatened Iran with devastating attacks unless it accepts a 15-point White House peace plan, possibly through indirect talks brokered by Pakistan.
Pakistan’s top diplomat confirmed that those negotiations were ongoing as military activity continued to escalate.
Iran denies participating in any negotiations despite efforts by Egypt and other nations to assist, and has cemented its control over the vital Strait of Hormuz, using it as a pressure point for the world economy.
Israel, meanwhile, says it will press ahead with more attacks.
In an online post, Trump insisted Tehran was ‘begging’ for a deal and warned of further military escalation if one is not reached.
‘They better get serious soon, before it is too late, because once that happens, there is NO TURNING BACK, and it won’t be pretty!’ he wrote on Truth Social.
The US President previously said that Sir Keir Starmer is ‘no Winston Churchill’ while fuming at the Prime Minister’s reluctance to allow America to use British bases to launch attacks on Tehran
Israeli security forces cordon off the area following a projectile strike on south Tel Aviv on March 26, 2026
Since launching the war alongside Israel on February 28, Trump has vacillated among different stated objectives, including toppling the Islamic Republic, eliminating its disputed nuclear programme and degrading its missile capabilities.
Now he’s focused on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s traded oil passed before Iran effectively seized control of the waterway in response to the surprise US-Israeli bombardment.
Israel says it still hopes to foment an uprising against Iran’s leaders.
Pakistan’s top diplomat, Ishaq Dar, said indirect talks between the United States and Iran are still ongoing, publicly acknowledging Pakistan’s role for the first time.
Pakistan, which borders Iran, is keen to restore regional stability and stem the war’s impact on energy prices. By stepping in as a mediator, it positions itself as a useful US partner.
It has also joined Trump’s Board of Peace, an initiative that grew out of the Gaza ceasefire.
Press TV, the English-language broadcaster on Iranian state television, said Iran has its own five-point proposal, which includes reparations and recognition of its sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.
