Trump Brands North Sea Oil a ‘Treasure Chest’, Urges UK to Reconsider Energy Policy

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Former United States (US) President Donald Trump has described North Sea oil as a “treasure chest” for the United Kingdom (UK), urging Westminster to slash taxes on oil and gas companies. He warned that current policies risk wasting a prime opportunity to strengthen the UK’s energy independence and lower household costs.

In a statement shared on social media shortly before opening his second golf course in Aberdeenshire, Trump criticised what he called punitive taxation targeting fossil fuel firms. 

“North Sea oil is a treasure chest for the United Kingdom. The taxes are so high, however, that it makes no sense. They have essentially told drillers and oil companies, ‘we don’t want you. ’ Incentivise the drillers, fast. A vast fortune to be made for the UK, and far lower energy costs for the people,” he said.

Long known for his scepticism of renewable energy, Trump also launched a strong attack on wind power during a recent press event. He claimed that wind turbines are expensive, inefficient, and visually intrusive. “Wind is the most expensive form of energy, and it destroys the beauty of your plains, your fields, and your waterways,” he said. “When we go to Aberdeen, you’ll see some of the ugliest windmills you’ve ever seen. They’re the height of a 50-storey building.”

He further argued that fossil fuels remain vastly more efficient, stating: “You can take a thousand times more energy out of a hole in the ground this big, it’s called oil and gas.”

Oil and gas extraction in the North Sea has underpinned the UK’s energy supply for more than sixty years. While production peaked in 1999 and has since been in steady decline, many believe the basin still holds significant untapped value. Industry voices have argued that with the right investment and fiscal incentives, the region could continue to contribute to national energy security.

Trump’s comments are likely to rekindle debate around the UK’s energy direction at a time when rising fuel bills and global instability have brought questions of domestic supply sharply into focus.