The longer the war in Iran churns on, the more hot-tempered and unhinged President Trump becomes. On Tuesday, Trump was at it again, lambasting Washington’s European allies on Truth Social for sitting on their hands and refusing to lift a finger to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf chokepoint through which around 20 per cent of the world’s crude oil passes. Calling out the United Kingdom specifically, Trump went on to scold the allies much as a parent would tell a lazy 28 year-old to get out of the house. ‘You’ll have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the USA won’t be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us,’ Trump wrote. The president pressed the issue during a short interview with his favourite tabloid: ‘let the countries that are using the strait, let them go and open it.’

The war in Iran has forced Europe to grow a spine

The war in Iran has forced Europe to grow a spine

In normal times, European leaders would scramble like headless chickens, dial each other up in a full-blown panic and brainstorm about how to climb the American commander-in-chief down from the ledge. When Trump barks, Europe usually answers the call to mollify him. Recall that last year, Keir Starmer and Italian premier Giorgia Meloni were instrumental in bringing Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr........

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