Pat McFadden, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, told the Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge that the “international security position has obviously changed” in recent months – and the US president was “part of that change”.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves referred to this changing world in her spring statement on Wednesday, insisting this was why the government had to “secure Britain’s future”.
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She said this began with the war in Ukraine, but it has “escalated further – and continues to evolve rapidly”.
Mr McFadden was asked what has changed in the world since, and whether the inauguration of Mr Trump in January could be to blame for what he dubbed a changing “international security position”.
He told Sky News: “Of course he’s part of the change. There’s no denying that.”
However, the cabinet minister did reiterate that the US president is “not all of the change”.
“He’s said that Europe needs to step up in its security. He’s not the first US president to say this,” Mr McFadden said.
“The question has definitely become sharper in recent weeks.”
Mr McFadden went on say he “can’t deny” that Mr Trump is “part of what’s going on”.
“It’s had a big effect,” he said.
“But for us and for other countries, that will mean taking greater responsibility for our own security.”
His comments come as Sir Keir Starmer vowed to “keep all options on the table” after Mr Trump imposed a 25% tariff on all imported cars into the US.
The president signed an executive order on Wednesday for the tax to kick in on 2 April – what he has called “liberation day”.
The move ratchets up the global trade war that Mr Trump promised he would ignite upon entering the White House for a second term.
Speaking in Paris on Thursday, the prime minister described the tariffs as “very concerning” and said the UK “will keep all options on the table” and “put the national interest first”.
