President Trump is furious about a new green energy deal struck between the British government and California Governor Gavin Newsom, whom he sees as one of his most dangerous political rivals. The deal was signed in London, and Trump quickly called it “inappropriate” for the UK to engage with the Democratic governor.
According to The Guardian, the agreement, known as a memorandum of understanding, was signed by Newsom and UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband. It is designed to deepen the existing partnership between the UK and California, which is the world’s fourth largest economy, with a focus on scaling up clean energy technologies and boosting ties between businesses and researchers on both sides.
The UK and California will also share practical expertise on protecting biodiversity and building resilience against extreme weather, including the wildfires that frequently hit California. The two leaders, who had previously met in New York in September, also discussed Artificial Intelligence and its role in the energy sector during their London meeting.
The UK-California clean energy deal carries real economic weight for both sides
A source close to Miliband said, “It was a productive meeting based on the huge clean energy jobs and investment opportunities that the UK and California can bring to one another.” Miliband added: “Strong international partnerships like today’s announcement with the state of California strengthen opportunities for UK businesses and secure investment for our country.”
Trump, however, sees the cooperation as a political move rather than a positive policy decision. In an interview, he lashed out at Newsom using a derogatory nickname. “The UK’s got enough trouble without getting involved with Gavin Newscum,” Trump said.
He then added: “Gavin is a loser. Everything he’s touched turns to garbage. His state has gone to hell, and his environmental work is a disaster.” Trump has shown a similar pattern of going after political opponents, as seen when he pushed to indict Democratic lawmakers over seditious behavior.
Trump went on to say it was “inappropriate” for Newsom to strike such agreements and “inappropriate for them [the UK] to be dealing with him.” This is likely to be noticed by British officials, who are always careful about the UK’s relationship with the White House.
Newsom’s trip to Europe came just after he attended the Munich Security Conference. Beyond the UK deal, he met with Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, both of whom have been vocal critics of the Trump administration’s foreign policy. He made his position clear when he said: “Donald Trump’s administration is temporary. California’s commitment is not.”
Both Newsom and Miliband are prominent targets for the populist right. The deal adds to the political tension, especially since Miliband is seen by some on the hard right as a possible successor to the current Labour leader if upcoming local elections go badly for the party. Trump has also been threatening Republican lawmakers who defy his trade agenda, showing he is just as willing to turn on allies as he is on opponents.
Published: Feb 17, 2026 03:15 pm