During his UN speech, Donald Trump launched a broad critique of UK energy policies, urging increased exploitation of North Sea oil and dismissing renewable projects, sparking controversy amid ongoing global climate debates.
During his address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September 2025, US President Donald Trump launched a broad critique of the UK government’s energy policies, particularly focusing on North Sea oil and gas. Trump accused the UK, and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer by name, of stifling development in the North Sea through what he characterised as excessively high taxation that deterred investment by oil companies. He declared that the UK possessed vast untapped oil reserves, calling on the government to "open up the North Sea" and capitalise on this valuable asset. This call aligns with earlier criticisms he made in January 2025, when he warned that the UK was making a "very big mistake" by raising the windfall tax on North Sea energy producers, a decision that had reportedly influenced companies like Apache Corp. to announce their planned exit from North Sea operations by 2029.
Trump's remarks extended beyond fossil fuels to criticise the UK’s climate policies. He condemned the widespread use of windmills and solar panels, claiming these renewable energy projects spoiled the natural landscapes of Scotland and England, describing them as sprawling developments that displaced farmland. This anti-renewables stance starkly contrasts with the global consensus on climate action, which regards renewables as essential to combating climate change. His dismissive attitude was evident in characterising climate change as a "con job" earlier in late 2025, prompting backlash from international delegates and environmental figures.
UK officials have pushed back against Trump’s rhetoric. Energy Minister Ed Miliband, speaking during Climate Week in New York, emphasised a more optimistic outlook on global climate commitments, highlighting record-breaking investments exceeding $2 trillion in renewable technologies in 2024, which doubled funding for fossil fuels. This demonstrates continued strong momentum toward clean energy despite pressure from proponents of fossil fuel industries.
In addition to his energy-focused attacks, Trump broadened his criticism to UK domestic policy and social issues. He reignited his long-standing feud with London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan, whom he labelled a "terrible, terrible mayor," accusing London of moving toward "sharia law." These claims were met with swift rebuttal from Khan’s office, which dismissed the statements as "appalling and bigoted," emphasising London’s status as a safe, diverse, and welcoming global city that attracts a record number of US citizens. Trump also criticised the UN’s role in asylum policies, claiming it was facilitating an unregulated influx of "illegal aliens" into Europe and undermining Western borders—a position that echoes his wider anti-immigration rhetoric.
These comments form part of a broader pattern where Trump links immigration and security concerns with cultural and political anxieties in Europe, while simultaneously pushing for policies favouring fossil fuel industries over renewable energy investments. His address, marked by stark warnings and cultural critiques, has drawn attention both for its contentious content and its implications for US-UK relations amid ongoing debates over energy policy and climate change.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative references recent events, including President Trump's UN General Assembly speech on September 23, 2025, and UK Energy Minister Ed Miliband's response on September 23, 2025. However, similar content appeared in January 2025, with reports on Trump's criticism of UK energy policies and the windfall tax on North Sea oil and gas producers. This earlier coverage may indicate recycled content. The inclusion of updated data, such as Miliband's recent statements, suggests an attempt to refresh the narrative. Nonetheless, the earlier publication of similar content raises concerns about the originality of the report. The presence of a press release from the UK government in the references indicates that some of the content may be based on official statements, which typically warrants a higher freshness score. However, the earlier appearance of similar content and the reliance on a press release suggest that the narrative may not be entirely original. The report includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged.
Quotes check
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative includes direct quotes attributed to President Trump and UK officials. A search reveals that similar quotes from President Trump regarding the UK's energy policies and the windfall tax were reported in January 2025. This suggests that the quotes may have been reused from earlier reports. Variations in wording between the January 2025 reports and the current narrative indicate potential paraphrasing. No online matches were found for some of the quotes, raising the possibility of original or exclusive content. However, the reuse of quotes from earlier material suggests that the narrative may not be entirely original.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative originates from The Scotsman, a reputable UK newspaper. The references include articles from established news outlets such as Reuters, AP News, and The Guardian, which are generally considered reliable. However, the presence of a press release from the UK government in the references indicates that some of the content may be based on official statements, which typically warrants a higher reliability score. Nonetheless, the reliance on a press release and the earlier appearance of similar content raise concerns about the originality and potential bias of the report.
Plausability check
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative presents claims that align with recent events, including President Trump's UN General Assembly speech on September 23, 2025, and UK Energy Minister Ed Miliband's response on September 23, 2025. However, similar content appeared in January 2025, with reports on Trump's criticism of UK energy policies and the windfall tax on North Sea oil and gas producers. The inclusion of updated data, such as Miliband's recent statements, suggests an attempt to refresh the narrative. Nonetheless, the earlier publication of similar content and the reliance on a press release raise concerns about the originality and potential bias of the report. The tone of the narrative is consistent with typical corporate or official language, and the structure includes specific factual anchors, such as names, institutions, and dates. However, the earlier appearance of similar content and the reliance on a press release suggest that the narrative may not be entirely original.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): FAIL
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative presents a report on President Trump's recent criticisms of UK energy policies and the windfall tax on North Sea oil and gas producers. While the report includes updated data, such as UK Energy Minister Ed Miliband's recent statements, it relies heavily on earlier content from January 2025 and a press release from the UK government. This suggests that the narrative may be recycled and not entirely original. The reuse of quotes and earlier material, along with the reliance on a press release, raises concerns about the freshness and originality of the report. Therefore, the overall assessment is a 'FAIL' with high confidence.
