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Express reporter Adam Toms argues the President's move betrays a complete lack of understanding on the issue.
13:25, Fri, Apr 24, 2026 Updated: 13:26, Fri, Apr 24, 2026
The US is reviewing its support of the UK's sovereignty over the Falklands (Image: Getty)
We have got used to the unexpected when it comes to this US President. A new day could bring with it a fresh diplomatic bombshell that you would never even dream of seeing under a previous administration. Today’s is particularly shocking if you’re a patriotic Brit - Donald Trump has threatened to review US support for European so-called “imperial possessions”, which would include the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic.
I visited the overseas territory last month, and found it to be a charming place, and completely and utterly British, down to residents inviting me inside their homes for a cup of tea, not having been forwarned about my knocking on their doors. As one former islander, Ian Cameron, told me next to Stanley’s war memorial, islanders seem “more British than the British”. When walking around Stanley, one cannot miss a massive Union Flag on the roof of Coleen Biggs’ house, which her mother, Betty, made sure was painted.
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I also visited Stanley’s museum, which displays the photos of the British servicemen lost repelling the Argentine invasion in 1982. It nearly brought me to tears.
Reporter Adam Toms saw the Britishness of the Falklands for himself (Image: Jonathan Buckmaster)
We lost 255 servicemen, including 18 and 19-year-olds - basically boys.
Some of them look much younger in their photos.
President Trump - who professes to have great respect for the UK’s armed forces - should be ashamed of himself.
I doubt the families of those who died bravely protecting the strategically important territory have even crossed his mind, as he pursues his somewhat immature vendetta against European countries who, understandably, want to stay out of his and Israel’s reckless war against Iran.
The President has played right into the hands of those Argentines who want to see the Falklands transferred to their country diplomatically, as they are not capable of taking them, nor do they have the will to do so, militarily.
This is the stance of Argentina’s President, Javier Milei.
He has previously suggested that Britain "might not want to negotiate today", but "at some later point they might want to".
Milei added: "Many positions have changed over time."
The change in position from the White House is hugely significant.
When in Buenos Aires, I heard first hand the still extremely passionate belief that the Falklands are Argentinian, including from a former secretary for affairs pertaining to the “Malvinas Islands”, Daniel Filmus, who suggested that international pressure would mean Britain would have no option but to hand over the islands, and retired Major General, Sergio Fernandez.
You can't miss the British flag on the roof of Coleen Biggs's house (Image: Jonathan Buckmaster)
Everywhere I went, there were images of the archipelago - in car windows, on road signs, painted on walls and even on t-shirts worn by a father and his young daughter at a River Plate football match.
The US has just emboldened this movement to push harder - it’s a huge boost for it.
Pleasingly, No. 10 has hit back firmly, which is to be expected, as Sir Keir Starmer’s uncle served in the Royal Navy during the Falklands War.
His spokesperson said: “We could not be clearer about the UK's position on the Falklands.
“It's longstanding, it's unchanged. Sovereignty rests with the UK and self-determination is paramount.”
He added: “The Falkland Islands have previously voted overwhelmingly in favour of remaining an overseas territory. We have always stood behind the right to self-determination.”
The Prime Minister needs to make it clear that Trump’s threat is completely unacceptable and deeply upsetting.
What could help set Mr Trump straight even more would be the King having a quiet word during his imminent State Visit.
The President’s move also betrays a complete lack of understanding and education about the issue.
Falkland Islanders are British, and will continue to be so. If Trump decided to withdraw his support, they would resist any attempted handover.
Argentines insist that they would be allowed to stay and remain British, on Argentine land. That is extremely hard to comprehend.
It is not certain even if many, if any, Argentines would bother to move to the islands permanently, were they somehow acquired.
That’s all I heard during my visit there - with locals telling me they would fight to remain part of our wonderful family of nations and territories.
As Patrick Watts MBE, who stoically kept radio broadcasting going in Stanley during the 1982 invasion while being guarded by Argentine soldiers, told me recently: “I can't see any reason to want to get closer to Argentina, and there's nothing that they can benefit us with.”
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