Trump tells UK 'go get your own oil' and 'King sent to US'
US President Donald Trump's latest comments about European allies dominate Wednesday's papers. "Go get your own oil" is the Guardian's headline as it quotes the US president's Truth Social message to nations worried about soaring fuel prices. The paper says Trump's posts are a "tentative sign of a more proactive European pushback to the war".
The Daily Express follows with the same headline, and reports the UK was singled out because it, Trump said, "refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran".
A photo of an Israeli airstrike destroying a building in Beirut is on the front page of the Times. Alongside, the paper provides more detail from the US president's message to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer as the UK faces looming jet fuel shortages. "Buy from the US, we have plenty," Trump said.
Metro also headlines with Trump's "new swipe at Britain".
As the war in Iran continues, oil prices have recorded their biggest rise in decades, according to the Financial Times. The paper says Brent crude surged above $119 a barrel on Tuesday, closing on its highest level since the start of the conflict.
"Trump's taunt exposes a PM without a plan" says the Daily Mail. The paper says MPs have accused Sir Keir Starmer of not having a clear plan after it emerged that the UK's last known shipment of jet fuel from the Middle East is due to arrive within two days. Elsewhere, the paper continues its coverage on the BBC's sacking of radio presenter Scott Mills. The broadcaster sacked Mills on Monday over allegations related to his personal conduct. The BBC has not given any further details over the allegations and it is not clear what, if any, role a police investigation into sexual offences played in his sacking. The investigation, which began in 2016, was closed in 2019 after the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) deemed there was insufficient evidence to bring charges. Mills has been approached for comment.
The Sun also leads with Scott Mills' sacking. The paper says the BBC Radio 2 DJ was questioned in 2018 over the allegations but prosecutors dropped the case in 2019 due to insufficient evidence. BBC News understands that the director general at the time of the police investigation, Tony Hall, did not know about the allegations.
"World pays for Trump lunacy" is the Daily Mirror's take as it spotlights a warning from analysts who say Europe could face a jet fuel shortage within days.
The i Paper shifts its focus to news of the King's upcoming state visit to the US in April. The paper describes it as a "mission to salvage a century of friendship".
The Independent follows with "Iran conflict chaos" as it notes that Trump's rant against the UK comes on the same day as confirmation of the King's official visit to the US.
The Daily Star's front page asks whether it's the end of the "special relationship" between the UK and US with the headline: "They think it's oil over."
Meanwhile, the First Sea Lord has said that the UK's Royal Navy is not ready for war, the Daily Telegraph reports. It features a warning from Gen Sir Gwyn Jenkins who believes the Navy "had work to do" before it was capable of fighting a war successfully.
"I started it… you finish it", is Metro's headline, after US President Donald Trump reportedly "infuriated" allies including the UK by telling them to "go get your own oil" from the blockaded Strait of Hormuz. The Daily Mail says Trump's "taunt" exposes Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer without a plan. But the Daily Mirror describes the US president as "unhinged", pointing out it was his "shambolic" war against Iran that shut the waterway. "This is oil your fault," is its headline.
"King sent on mission to salvage a century of friendship", is the i Paper's lead. The paper says the announcement of the state visit next month came just "minutes" after Trump's "outburst" against allies about oil.
The Guardian reports on what it calls "a tentative sign of a more proactive European pushback" against the Iran war. The paper says France blocked Israeli planes from flying weapons through its airspace and Italy refused last-minute permission for US bombers to land in Sicily.
The Sun says that BBC bosses are being urged to say why the radio host, Scott Mills, was kept on air despite them reportedly knowing that he was interviewed by the police in 2018 about sex offences involving a boy aged under 16. The case was dropped in 2019. The paper says the BBC has remained "tight lipped" over what changed since the alleged original decision not to act.
The broadcaster sacked Mills on Monday over allegations related to his personal conduct. The BBC has not given any further details over the allegations and it is not clear what, if any, role a police investigation into sexual offences played in his sacking. The investigation, which began in 2016, was closed in 2019 after the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) deemed there was insufficient evidence to bring charges. Mills has been approached for comment.
According to the Times, an MP whose husband is accused of spying for China has been reported for inappropriate conduct with a senior naval officer working on Britain's nuclear deterrent. Joani Reid reportedly got "carried away" at a drinks reception during a visit to the Faslane naval base in Argyle and Bute last year. A source close to Ms Reid said claims she had been reported because of national security concerns were "opportunistic hypocrisy".
"Japanned", declares the Daily Mirror, while the Sun opts for "down the pan", as the back pages offer criticism of England's 1-nil defeat at Wembley last night. The Guardian says the fans who stayed until the final whistle "booed with feeling". "The only blessing", according to the Daily Express, is that "at least the World Cup is not just around the corner".
