Starmer & Trump Clash on Energy Policy at UK–US State Visit Press Conference

At a joint press conference during President Trump’s State Visit to the UK, Prime Minister Keir Starmer and President Trump set out sharply different visions for Britain’s energy future, revealing a clear transatlantic split over renewables and fossil fuels.

Starmer said he is “absolutely determined to ensure that the price and cost of energy comes down… for families with their household bills but also for business,” stressing the importance of a balanced transition. “The mix will include oil and gas for many years to come, from the North Sea, we’ve been clear about that for some time. But we also need to mix that with renewables. And it’s the mix that’s really important,” he told reporters, describing his approach as pragmatic.

Trump, by contrast, championed more traditional fuels. “We had the worst inflation in the history of our country and we had an expression that I used a lot, ‘drill baby drill’ and as you know, we brought fuel way down. Prices way down,” he said. “We don’t do wind because wind is a disaster. It’s a very expensive joke frankly. We got our energy prices way down and that brought inflation way down. We have very little inflation and we have a very strong economy.”

The two leaders’ comments came against the backdrop of markedly different energy systems. In 2024, fossil fuels made up 58% of U.S. electricity (dominated by natural gas at 42.5%, with coal at nearly 15%), while renewables supplied 24% led by wind at just over 10%. By contrast, the UK’s 2024 electricity mix was majority renewable at 51.5% (with wind contributing about 30%), fossil fuels down to 34% (mainly natural gas at 29.9%, coal almost phased out at 0.8%) and nuclear at 14.5%.

In London, the differences were clear. Starmer emphasised reducing the UK’s reliance on oil and gas over time while accelerating wind, solar and other clean sources to lower bills and meet climate targets. Trump, meanwhile, urged Britain to emulate his “drill baby drill” strategy, arguing that expanded North Sea oil and gas production — not more wind farms — would cut prices more quickly and boost economic growth.