Donald Trump blasts Keir Starmer and Ed Miliband for signing ‘inappropriate’ inexperienced power cope with ‘loser’ California governor Gavin Newsom

Donald Trump today lashed out at the Labour Government for signing an ‘inappropriate’ green energy deal with ‘loser’ California governor Gavin Newsom.

The US President fumed about an agreement struck between Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and Mr Newsom, a leading Democrat critic of Mr Trump, on Monday.

The ‘memorandum of understanding’ (MoU), signed in London, is the 12th such agreement that the UK has signed with American states, including Washington and Florida.

It aims to deepen co-operation across clean energy, climate action and protecting nature.

But Mr Trump, who has frequently attacked Sir Keir Starmer’s energy policies, swiftly denounced the deal between Britain and one of his fiercest political opponents.

Referring to the California governor by his dergatory nickname, the US President told Politico: ‘The UK’s got enough trouble without getting involved with Gavin Newscum.

‘Gavin is a loser. Everything he’s touched turns to garbage. His state has gone to hell, and his environmental work is a disaster.’ 

Mr Trump added that it was ‘inappropriate’ for Mr Newsom to strike such agreements and ‘inappropriate for them [the UK] to be dealing with him’.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband signed an agreement with California’s Democrat governor Gavin Newsom to deepen co-operation across clean energy, climate action and protecting nature

Mr Trump, who has frequently attacked Sir Keir Starmer’s energy policies, swiftly denounced the deal between Britain and one of his fiercest political opponents 

As he continued his assault on the California governor, the US President warned ‘people are leaving’ America’s most populous state under Mr Newsom.

‘The worst thing that the UK can do is get involved in Gavin,’ he said. ‘If they did to the UK what he did to California, this will not be a very successful venture.’

Mr Newsom has emerged as one of Mr Trump’s most vocal Democrat critics who has increasingly taken to fighting fire with fire.

At the weekend, he used a speech at the Munich Security Conference in Germany to say the US President will be ‘gone in three years’ and his wider investment in clean power will have impacts long after that.

But the deal between the UK and California comes at a time when Mr Miliband has been warned he might have to choose between UK energy blackouts or meeting his Net Zero goals. 

A recent report by regulator Ofgem said there were significant delays in maintenance and upgrade of the UK’s power cables that meant ‘significant challenges in meeting Clean Power 2030 ambitions while sustaining world-class reliability’.

At the weekend, Mr Newsom used a speech at the Munich Security Conference in Germany to say the president will be ‘gone in three years’

While acknowledging ‘open disagreements’ with the Trump administration on clean power, the UK Government has pushed nuclear energy as a key area of strategic agreement, with Sir Keir and Mr Trump signing a major nuclear power deal in September.

But Mr Trump has also repeatedly hit out at the UK’s green energy policies, describing wind energy as a ‘con’ and arguing Britain should be exploiting the North Sea fossil fuel reserves.

The aim of the MoU is to boost transatlantic investment, strengthen collaborations between research institutions, support clean energy businesses to access the Californian market, and share expertise on protecting nature and building resilience to extreme weather.

The US federal government has rowed back on climate action and propped up fossil fuels, including revoking a scientific finding last week that legally underpinned US action to reduce planet-heating emissions and fight climate change.

But while Mr Trump has described climate change as a ‘hoax’, Mr Newsom has sought to expand state-level green policies in California and continued to engage in multilateral co-operation with other countries.

Mr Miliband said: ‘This Government’s clean energy mission is about taking back control of our energy to cut bills, create jobs, and tackle the climate crisis.

‘Strong international partnerships like today’s announcement with the State of California strengthens opportunities for UK businesses and secures investment for our country.’

Mr Newsom said: ‘California is the best place in America to invest in a clean economy because we set clear goals and we deliver.

‘Today, we deepened our partnership with the United Kingdom on climate action and welcomed nearly a billion dollars in clean tech investment from Octopus Energy.

‘California will continue showing the world how we can turn innovation and ambition into climate action.’

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) said the agreement will open up new export opportunities, boost skilled job opportunities across the UK and back British businesses to compete and grow, with companies such as Octopus Energy already expanding on the US west coast.

It is hoped this closer co-operation will ultimately help to cut bills, deliver energy security by reducing exposure to fossil fuel markets, safeguard the natural environment and protect homes, public services and local economies from the impacts of climate change.

A DESNZ spokesperson said: ‘Our relationship with the US remains a cornerstone of our security and prosperity.

‘We continue to work closely with the US government on a range of issues, including ushering in a golden age of nuclear through the landmark nuclear partnership we signed during the State Visit last year.

‘Today’s energy MoU is just one in a series signed at state level, including Florida and Texas, that will deliver jobs and growth in the UK.’