President Donald Trump speaks during a Black History Month event in the East Room of the White House, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, in Washington.Donald Trump has attacked Keir Starmer’sChagos deal once again, describing it as a “big mistake” and a “blight” on the UK.The UK government announced last year that it was going to pay Mauritius £9 billion over the next 99 years so the UK-US military base at Diego Garcia will continue to operate as it does at the moment.The US president initially seemed in favour of the deal but, at the height of his row with Europe over the sovereignty of Greenland in January, he changed his mind.He accused Britain of giving away the “vital US military base” for “NO REASON WHATSOEVER”.He then backtracked just two weeks ago, after a phone call with the prime minister, describing it as the best deal Starmer “could make”, though he warned that the US retains “the right to militarily secure and reinforce the American presence in Diego Garcia”.The US did give its official backing to the UK’s plan to cede sovereignty of the territory only on Tuesday.However, Trump has just changed his mind again, writing on TruthSocial that he has told Starmer “leases are no good when it comes to countries”.He claimed to have warned the PM that “he is making a big mistake by entering a 100 year lease”.He added: “Prime minister Starmer is losing control of this important Island by claims of entities never known of before. In our opinion, they are fictitious in nature.”Trump suggested the US might need the archipelago if Iran does not agree to a new nuclear deal.The president concluded: “We will always be ready, willing, and able to fight for the UK, but they have to remain strong in the face of Wokeism.”A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “The deal to secure the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia military is crucial to the security of the UK and our key allies, and to keeping the British people safe.“The agreement we have reached is the only way to guarantee the long-term future of this vital military base.” Talks between the US and Mauritius are scheduled for next week.Read Trump’s full message below:I have been telling Prime Minister Keir Starmer, of the United Kingdom, that Leases are no good when it comes to Countries, and that he is making a big mistake by entering a 100 Year Lease with whoever it is that is “claiming” Right, Title, and Interest to Diego Garcia, strategically located in the Indian Ocean. Our relationship with the United Kingdom is a strong and powerful one, and it has been for many years, but Prime Minister Starmer is losing control of this important Island by claims of entities never known of before. In our opinion, they are fictitious in nature. Should Iran decide not to make a Deal, it may be necessary for the United States to use Diego Garcia, and the Airfield located in Fairford, in order to eradicate a potential attack by a highly unstable and dangerous Regime — An attack that would potentially be made on the United Kingdom, as well as other friendly Countries. Prime Minister Starmer should not lose control, for any reason, of Diego Garcia, by entering a tenuous, at best, 100 Year Lease. This land should not be taken away from the U.K. and, if it is allowed to be, it will be a blight on our Great Ally. We will always be ready, willing, and able to fight for the U.K., but they have to remain strong in the face of Wokeism, and other problems put before them. DO NOT GIVE AWAY DIEGO GARCIA!White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: “The post should be taken as the policy of the Trump administration, it’s coming straight from the horse’s mouth.“When you see it on Truth Social you know it’s directly from President Trump, that’s the beauty of this president in his transparency and relaying this administration’s policies.”Tory shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel said these remarks will be an “utter humiliation” for Starmer.She said: “It’s time Starmer finally saw sense, U-turned and scrapped this appalling deal altogether.”Lib Dem leader Ed Davey wrote on X: “Trump’s endless flip-flopping on the Chagos Islands shows why Starmer’s approach is doomed to fail.“Britain can’t rely on the US while Trump is in the White House. It’s time to strengthen our ties with allies we can depend on, starting with our neighbours in Europe.”Reform’s Nigel Farage also said: “Thank goodness Trump has vetoed the surrender of the Chagos islands.”Four people who live on the Chagos island also set up camp on the archipelago’s remote atoll this week to protest the deal.They refused to leave, despite facing eviction threats from the UK maritime patrol.Related…’People Will Never Forgive This’: Zelenskyy Lashes Out At Trump Amid Peace TalksTrump Takes A Swipe At A Former President In His Tribute To Jesse JacksonMarjorie Taylor Greene Says Trump Pressured Her To Stop Exposing Epstein Files HuffPost UK – Athena2 – All Entries (Public) Read More