GB News halted for breaking alert – Donald Trump will | UK News

Donald Trump has been dealt a recent blow as his tariffs menace has obtained additional criticism. The US President said the UK and seven other European nations will be hit with a 10% tariff for opposing US control of Greenland.The tariffs will be “on any and all goods” exported to the US from February 1 and will last until a deal is reached for the “complete and total purchase of Greenland”.

He added that the tariffs will be elevated to 25% on June 1. Several European leaders have publicly criticised Trump’s menace, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer who said imposing tariffs on allies is “completely wrong”. On Sunday’s GB News, the programme was halted for a breaking announcement as NATO members have warned tariffs might set off a “dangerous, downward spiral” if carried out. Speaking to presenter Dawn Neesom, former Tory Defence Secretary Sir Liam Fox called the threats an “unnecessary distraction”, including that they “don’t make any sense”.

Asked what he makes of Trump’s behaviour, Fox said: “I think this whole episode is sad and to an extent, distressing. It’s a manufactured foreign policy crisis at a time when NATO needs to be standing closely together.

“I believe for those of us who have always regarded the United States as the preeminent nation that defends freedom, to be in a place where it is threatening the very allies that it relies upon on for wider security does not make any sense and I believe the faster we get this entire downside deescalated, the better.”

He later added: “I believe this is an pointless distraction and will trigger a lot of misery to a lot of us who have regarded the Americans as our major, most trusted and most particular allies.”

Pressed on whether he believes Trump’s actions are a form of bullying, Fox responded: “You might argue legally, this is principally saying, ‘I’ve a overseas coverage place and unless you agree to it, I will punish you through the commerce system.’ This does risk a commerce battle unnecessarily.

“It’s quite right that we should be doing more as a NATO alliance in Greenland and the High North. There are risks there and have been emerging for a long time.”

Also hitting back at Trump’s menace, Swedish PM Ulf Kristersson said: “We won’t let ourselves be blackmailed. I will always stand up for my country, and for our allied neighbours. This is an EU issue that concerns many more countries than those now being singled out.”

He added: “Sweden is currently having intensive discussions with other EU countries, Norway and the United Kingdom to find a joint response.”