Donald Trump has escalated his rhetoric against Britain, hinting he would not come to the UK's aid if Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands again and complaining that Britain "wasn't there to help" the US during its recent military campaign against Iran. Speaking to GB News, he acknowledged Britain "comported itself very well" in reclaiming the islands in 1982 but questioned whether the US would intervene this time, citing the UK's refusal to send its navy to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The remarks break with America's traditional neutrality on Falklands sovereignty and are widely seen as pressure to secure greater UK military support, coming as Argentina's president Javier Milei, a Trump ally, prepares a televised address on the "sacred" Malvinas issue.

The row follows earlier friction over the UK's limited role in the Iran campaign, after which Trump branded Sir Keir Starmer "no Churchill" and claimed Britain had offered an aircraft carrier too late — a claim ministers denied. Britain maintains Falklands sovereignty is not in question, pointing to a 2013 referendum in which 99.8% of islanders voted to remain British on a 92% turnout. The 1982 war killed 649 Argentines, 255 Britons and three islanders. Separately, Argentine groups have launched a lawsuit to block the British-Israeli Sea Lion oil project near the islands, and the Falklands issue could overshadow Andy Burnham's expected first meeting with Trump at the UN General Assembly later this month.