US President Donald Trump has warned that the United States “won’t be there to help” the United Kingdom, in unusually direct remarks made as American forces continue a major air campaign against Iran from bases in England.
In a post on social media, Trump criticised the UK for not joining US operations, writing:
“All of those countries that can’t get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the United Kingdom, which refused to get involved… go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT.” He added: “You’ll have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the U.S.A. won’t be there to help you anymore.”
“All of those countries that can’t get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the United Kingdom, which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran, I have a suggestion for you…” – President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/aPYmL0qspa
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 31, 2026
The comments come as the United States significantly expands its long-range strike presence in the UK under Operation Epic Fury, with RAF Fairford now hosting a substantial concentration of American heavy bombers supporting operations against Iranian targets.
At least 23 US bombers are now forward deployed in England, including eight B-52H Stratofortress aircraft and a larger contingent of B-1B Lancers, according to open-source tracking and analysis by UK Defence Journal Senior Editor Jon. The most recent arrivals, operating as callsigns “BAZOO51” and “BAZOO52”, landed at Fairford in recent days, adding to what appears to be a deliberate build-up of strike capacity.
Operation Epic Fury, led by U.S. Central Command, is focused on degrading Iranian military capabilities, including missile infrastructure, with long-range bombers forming a central element of sustained conventional strike operations. RAF Fairford’s ability to host all major US strategic bomber types has made it a key hub, allowing aircraft to launch missions into the Middle East more efficiently and maintain a high tempo of sorties.
The scale of the deployment underlines the continued integration of UK basing into US global strike operations, even as the President’s remarks introduce a markedly more transactional tone towards allies.
There has been no immediate response from the UK Government, and there is no indication of a formal change to US defence policy, but the remarks were delivered as US forces continue to operate at scale from British soil.
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take what ? i thought the war was over, Trump already declared victory 12 times in the last two weeks ! surely the strait is open right?
Trump hasn’t quiet yet realised that him saying so doesn’t make it reality. He badly wants out of this war and keeps hanging options out to Iran to give him the win but they keep shoving them back in his face.
Does President Trump actually exist? If you had to invent a personality to get the most social media clicks possible, he would be hard to beat. Leaves me wondering if he’s really Elon Musk’s AI slop.
This was an obvious conclusion after the UK and now Europe, have pretty much jacked on the US in its attack on Iran. Whether you support the attack or not (I supported the efforts at reducing the Iranian nuclear capability previously but a little unsure about this epic mission creep) Europe and the UK still rely on the US for its kit and defence needs, for at least the next few years till we can get a grip of our own capabilities. Orange man will never forget the way he perceives he and the US have been treated and is erratic enough to risk NATO in an effort at retribution, both political and militarily, for this deemed offense. Stand by for more chaos due to the losers who are currently in power on both sides of the pond.
Let’s be honest if the UK or NATO was under attack from Russia trump was never coming anyway.
Possibly mate!
Exactly, he made in into a transaction. Europe was fine to buy US arms at a cost, but support was provided by the US itself.
Putting aside the conflict is outside the scope of NATO, trump sees it as a extension of US power and control. Which it has been for decades but things like stitching up NATO allies over Afghan exit etc have made the other counties realise it wasn’t a two way deal and so don’t see the need to ask how high when he says jump.
Almost certainly true he would see it as damaging economic and military rivals while he made billions out of it. Making America Great will rely on substantially taking others down to help any America move up. Beating up foreigners is indeed how his supporters see making it great, thus we see his new wars.
World leaders should start standing up to the narcissist megalomaniac bully and this is a good moment to do it. He shows no respect for others, and could not care less about allies. It has been proven again and again that with him, those who show strength have some probabilities of seeing him backing off, while those who show weakness have certainty of being crashed.
However “world leaders” are also very much like Trump, selfish, power crazy and in politics for themselves! The only difference is Trump is not controlled by any speech writers or parliamentary type secretary!
Just Miller and Netanyahu
Do you see any potential winners either side of the pond? Maybe Newsome there but here, don’t see one at all and either way the damage caused by Trump will make life almost impossible to navigate for many a year… at least.
So the current US airbases in the UK, which are launching bombing missions on Iran, are expendable for any future American military operations. I’m sure the Pentigon will love that. So goodbye, Mildenhall and Lakenheath, the latter of which just underwent a big infrastructural upgrade for their F-35A fleet. What a waste of US dollars! Could Lakenheath become a second F-35 base for the RAF and eventually Tempest? As for Fairford, an additional heavy transport base, and Mildenhall, a housing estate, as planned before its reprieve a few years ago.
If they do close due to his child like antics, it will be the UK and Europe who will be the losers in the near term for sure. But by then the orange man will hopefully be gone and any plan to close/remove will be cancelled by the grown ups in the room mate.
Obviously I was being facetious when suggesting the US stations would close en masse. If, however, Trump bullies his way into a third term, that could be another matter. When Milldenhall was earmarked for closure and assets moved to Germany, the drawdown timing was three/four years. With that in mind, let’s say it takes a year to announce withdrawal from the UK, plus four years to move out; then the new occupant of the Oval Office may have a different view on the matter?
Never mind airbases.
Digby.
Menwith Hill.
Wyton.
Bude.
Cheltenham.
Welford.
Croughton.
Feltwell.
Molesworth.
Off you go, lets see how your intell and comms goes in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa with the plug pulled on those.
Sure, some nation might volunteer to replicate those capabilities.
Chickens are flying around the roost so much around HMG of the last 30 years who’ve damaged our ability to act independently that they’re blocking out the sun…
Mmm – our limited access to satellites is an issue.
5 Eyes remains a cornerstone of Intelligence sharing.
ISTARI should be FOC in 2031. In the meantime I’d hope we’d get dibs on BAE Azalea if we needed it.
The Europeans are seeing the light there, they won’t even let Space X launch their new satellites even at a 5th of the cost. I see also they are launching a competitor to Microsoft Office that has been sitting around for a while. Near total self reliance is the aim however long it takes. Where it leaves us I don’t know.
It’s a classic abusive relationship. The UK and Europe (and Japan, Korea etc) are getting royally buggered by the US and getting blamed for it at the same time. I don’t know what the answer is for sure, but it would be wonderful to be able to tell them to f off and take their UK based stuff with them.
And whilst fantasising, I wish Europe could become at least militarily independent of the US. Having said that, I guess we more or less are that already. Self sufficient is probably the better term.
Europe will just have to rely on the 1.8 million soldiers, 6000 main battle tanks, 1800 combat jest, 60 Submarines and 190 surface combatants it operates to defend itself 😀
All linked by the best logistics system anywhere on planet earth. I’m sure satellites will be a slight issue but somehow I’m guessing the 55 military satellites European NATO members have will get us buy.
Is there a combined, coherent and resilient “European” defence structure?
Unless Germany and Italy are joining the nuclear club, it depends on the French or UK Govt willingness to play nuclear brinkmanship with Putin.
We are a 3rd country outside the EU, our interests don’t align necessarily eg on EU expansion.
JEF would be the only current pan European structure outside of NATO. The JEF countries would be the countries required to provide the initial response to a Russian incursion anway. The rest of European forces would be required to provide reinforcements but nothing very quickly. Russia has a small airforce and limited ability to deploy a mechanised army.
A Pan European Defence structure is not a necessity.
JEF is a NATO offshoot so not wholly outside, even though it accepted non-NATO members.
Just as well this administration is going to be neutered at the mid terms and gone in 2 years after that.
The mid terms will be interesting. I had help thinking the nutters will still come out on mass and see republicans win more seats than is expected. Equally trump ignores Congress and so isn’t it actually going to matter.
He can’t ignore Congress if it’s not stuffed with his lap dogs.
Why? His been doing so upto now. Decisions have been made by the white house without first refering to Congress.
The only power Congress really has is over the budget, and that is a difficulty topic as if the democrats are too difficult they will never get voted in again, they have to play it carefully and focus on purely on popular parts of the bill and hope the media reports it.
At $1 billion a day cost the Trump administration can’t fight a war for very long with no funding from Congress and a war powers bill requires 60 votes in the senate to pass.
Are you going to find 10 democrats to vote for his war? That’s what it will take.
I know it’s a diplomatic nightmare, but would the lib Dems or another marginal party tell him to f off on behalf of the country, pretty please.
Best course for us is the one we are following now. Ignore the late night Truth Social ranting and deploy assets to the Strait only if it is in the British national interest. No point in engaging with the slanging match or jumping to any kneejerk reactions. Unfortunately we don’t have many cards to play as we’ve given so much away since the end of Empire. Best to weather the storm with like minded allies and at least come out of this with the moral high ground.
Ironically, if they pull out they harm themselves as much as us.
I’ve highlighted the intell side many times, we are so joined at the hip in so many areas I can list.
Lets see actions in place louder than words, we await you leaving all the USVF locations in the UK.
I bet that they don’t, as saner heads in the DoD and USIC will be pulling their hair out.
I agree, it’s amazing how one sided the intelligence debate is sighted as. Like America purely out of generosity shares intelligence with the UK and the £4 billion a year we spend on intelligence buys nothing.
As we have seen from the Snowden leaks GCHQ offers invaluable intelligence and capabilities to the NSA and other US agencies.
Intelligence is probably the one area where we do make a major irreplaceable contribution to the “special” relationship.
Exactly, Jim.
Ok, block American operations from RAF bases.
I was ‘politely’ scorned about 6 months ago on this forum when I suggested the US wasn’t reliable and that our 100 FGR4s were a fraction of what they need to be for our current and future requirements.
My user name is accurate for me in every area bar one. I am a consultant psychologist specialising in assessing parents involved in child protection proceedings and interparental conflict. So I know a thing or two about assessing psychologically complex individuals. I am ethically barred from offering clinical opinions on people in the public eye who I have not personally assessed (though increasing numbers of my American colleagues are now breaching this rule in his case)
That said, it is fair to say that I have a professional opinion about the man in the White House and it is not positive or optimistic about the immediate future for any of us I’m afraid.
Prayer is your best bet.
Petition Mr Micawber 🙂
Fine, then take your bases off all of our territories you c0ckwomble!!!