Whiplash, Caught in Another Trump Whiplash…

This is getting to be like one of those amusement-park outings where you’re doing fine, have a big day as a G kinda guy on the best rides, and then suddenly the queasiness hits.

It had to have been all the hairpin turns finally catching up with you, and out of the blue the equilibrium you were so proud of is shot.

I’m sure what’s left of Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s stomach lining feels like that right about now, and, frankly, my neck is sore from the Trump induced whiplash.

There are times I wish he’d make up his damn mind and stick to it.

Conversely, again today, this is one of the times I’m glad he didn’t.

It’s maddening.

Vurt da furk am I talking about?

Diego Gracia, the British government’s Chagos Island giveaway, and the United States.

One year ago, after being briefed at their first meeting, Trump – and later Secretary of State Marco Rubio – said the United States is inclined to give its approval to the deal.

Don’t underestimate Trump. This was a public show of diplomacy. Oh to be a fly on the wall in private.

— Bonnie (@howardandbonni1) February 28, 2025

Over the course of 2025, Starmer’s popularity plummeted. Mostly because he sucks, but also thanks to the actual details of the disastrous Chagos Island treaty becoming known to the public and completely clear to the United States for the first time.

It also became quite obvious that Trump and the State Department had been lied to in order to forestall any veto from the U.S. by a British government desperate to get a deal done.

This past January, Trump erupted in fury over the ‘stupidity’ of the deal, putting a shellshocked Starmer immediately on the defensive and elating opponents who started victory dances anticipating the death of the entire putrid enterprise.

President Trump is absolutely right to point out the staggering stupidity of the United Kingdom handing over the strategically vital Chagos Islands to a country more than 1,200 miles away that has no connection to them (and that happens to be a vassal of China), purely as an act… pic.twitter.com/wLD0u3PBGY

— Hans Mahncke (@HansMahncke) January 20, 2026

The hooting was a tad premature, as Trump quietly and inexplicably walked back the statement two weeks later.

No fanfare, no nothing. Just what looked to be a green light for the go-ahead, with the usual reservations vis-à-vis autonomous action concerning U.S. national security interests if something went awry.

BREAKING:

Trump writes that he has talked to Keir Starmer about his decision to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos islands from the UK to Mauritius.

Trump writes that no matter what happens, the U.S. won’t give up its military base on Diego Garcia. pic.twitter.com/ttYuY53Vya

— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) February 5, 2026

It was gobsmacking, disheartening news here, but did little to stop the firestorm of resistance Starmer and his lackies were facing at home.

“You’re giving sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, plus £9bn. What is that money for?” – @SophyRidgeSky

“The details will be provided in due course.” – @SDoughtyMP

The Foreign Office Minister deflects @SophyRidgeSky‘s question on the Chagos Islands deal.#PolHub pic.twitter.com/OgQoHsFWYn

— Sky News (@SkyNews) February 5, 2025

So here we are today.

I hope you have a neck brace on, or at least a good Ace bandage under and an apple warmer over.

You’re going to need it.

  

There’s been a big bada boom.

I KEEP TELLING STARMER HE’S MAKING A BIG MISTAKE AND LEASES ARE NO GOOD

Second Round – Trump says no to Starmer’s Chagos/Diego Garcia giveaway. pic.twitter.com/kgviSotHMc

— Brent D. Sadler (@brentdsadler) February 18, 2026

DO NOT GIVE AWAY DIEGO GARCIA

Oh, someone’s knickers have to be damp.

Donald Trump launched a fresh attack Wednesday on Keir Starmer, lambasting a deal the British prime minster painstakingly struck with Mauritius over the Diego Garcia military base in the Chagos Islands.

In a post on Truth Social, the U.S. president — whose own State Department had signaled tentative backing for the agreement just a day before — urged Starmer: “DO NOT GIVE AWAY DIEGO GARCIA!”

The move is likely to trigger whiplash in the British government, which believed it had once again secured U.S. blessing after a Trump post in January excoriated a deal his own administration had formally backed in 2025.

…While Trump on Wednesday nodded to a “strong and powerful” relationship with the U.K., he warned Starmer “is losing control of this important Island by claims of entities never known of before.”

“In our opinion, they are fictitious in nature,” he added.

In an apparent warning that the U.S. could exert further pressure if tensions ramp up in the Middle East, Trump said: “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 [England’s] 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.”

…Allowing the land to be taken away would be “a blight on our Great Ally.”

Less there be any confusion as far as interpretation, the press secretary laid it out.

…Trump’s Truth Social post “should be taken as the policy of the Trump administration, coming straight from the horse’s mouth,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters.

“You see on Truth Social, you know it’s directly from President Trump,” she added.

It’s interesting that Trump mentioned Iran, as assets utilizing Diego Garcia flew in the raids on that country last June, and the Iranians, while once again playing the negotiations cat and mouse game they’ve always won with previous administrations, have to be watching the same flight trackers everyone else on X is with a tiny lump in their throats.

Non stop tankers on the move, absolutely nuts. pic.twitter.com/dyDRUBWVq9

— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) February 18, 2026

They have to be wondering, with this build-up…

This is literally Insane deployments
Lot’s of tankers, Globemasters, Fighter jets enroute to Middle East past 24hrs
A Massive buildup
Something Big on it’s way pic.twitter.com/Xf4LnaloxQ

— OSINT_PK (@osintPk) February 17, 2026

…if any of that message to Starmer was meant for Iranian ears.

Press Sec Leavitt: “Trump has always been very clear that with respect to Iran, or any country around the world, diplomacy is always his first option, and Iran would be very wise to make a deal with President Trump.” pic.twitter.com/X2jM2asCvP

— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) February 18, 2026

I would bet you good money it was.

State of play: Trump’s armada has grown to include two aircraft carriers, a dozen warships, hundreds of fighter jets and multiple air defense systems. Some of that firepower is still on its way.

• More than 150 U.S. military cargo flights have moved weapons systems and ammunition to the Middle East.
• Just in the past 24 hours, another 50 fighter jets — F-35s, F-22s and F-16s — headed to the region.

It was also meant for the Chinese who are building a beachhead in Mauritius with their newly purchased friends there.

As the tension ratchets up, it probably wouldn’t hurt to lay in some Naproxen.

The twists and turns are going to be something.

Someone’s going to be mighty sore when it’s all over.

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