Trump says strange things are happening in UK – | Political News

As the UK grapples with ongoing debates about free speech, its ally, US President Donald Trump, has also voiced his issues about the rising censorship crackdown.

Sir Keir Starmer‘s status for defending free speech has been tarnished in latest occasions, significantly following London Met Police’s arrest of Irish comic Graham Linehan, recognized for his controversial views on transgender points.

Linehan reported that he was apprehended by 5 armed officers upon disembarking a flight from the US and was taken into a cell for questioning over messages posted in April. The Father Ted TV author revealed that his blood pressure had skyrocketed to “stroke territory” after the police interrogation, main to his hospitalization and subsequent release on bail. The news comes as Trump’s full Rose Garden dinner visitor listing as Elon Musk snubbed.

This incident led Nigel Farage, chief of Reform UK, to criticize the scenario during his latest journey to the US, proclaiming that “Free speech is under assault in Britain.”

In a written assertion ready for his handle to the House Judiciary Committee in Washington last Wednesday, Farage acknowledged: “Somewhere on this planet of ours, innovators must remain free to build the next generation of platforms without being hamstrung by illiberal and authoritarian censorship regimes that are alien to both American and traditionally British values.”, stories the Express.

“Right now, that place is America. Those of us in the UK will do what we can to make Britain such a place as well.”

Interestingly, it appears Donald Trump has also been observing the scenario intently, describing it as “Sad” when requested about it during Thursday night’s Tech Dinner at the White House.

During this exclusive event, where the President mingled with the most influential figures in the tech industry, Mr.Trump, seated next to Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, was questioned about the continued UK crackdown on social media posts.

Initially, Zuckerberg sidestepped the query, confessing he “wasn’t listening” when it was posed, before Mr.Trump stepped in to share his own perspective on the matter.

“Strange things are happening over there,” he cautioned. “They are cracking down. I’ve spoken to the Prime Minister and lets see what happens. It is a little bit (of a )different situation, I’m very surprised to see what’s happening. Sad. It’s not a good thing.”

Irish author Mr Linehan was arrested on Monday and reported being detained by 5 armed officers and taken into a cell for questioning, over messages posted on X in April. One message read: “If a trans-identified male is in a female-only space, he is committing a violent, abusive act. Make a scene, call the cops and if all else fails, punch him in the balls.”

One of the posts was a image of a trans rights protest, with the caption “a photo you can smell”, adopted by another post stating: “I hate them. Misogynists and homophobes. profanity em.”

Downing Street selected not to remark instantly on the arrest, referring to it as “an operational matter for the police”. However, they did point out that the Prime Minister and Home Secretary have made their policing priorities “clear”.

Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick called the incident “a complete waste of police time”, including: “We desperately need to end this nonsense and go after actual criminals.”

His colleague, shadow cupboard minister Claire Coutinho, remarked: “Britain used to be known for its sense of humor. Now the police are arresting people for making jokes.

“You live in a society? Occasionally you are going to be offended. That’s how it really works.”

Labour backbencher Jonathan Hinder suggested the arrest demonstrated the need for a “critical reset to get the priorities proper” in policing.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman stated that the Government’s priorities for crime and policing were “tackling anti-social habits, shoplifting, road crime” and “lowering critical violent crimes like knife crime and violence against ladies.”