President Trump has called on the UK government to scrap inheritance tax on farms and warned at a famous meeting with Scottish Prime Minister Kiel Starmer to pose a threat to the future of family farming.
The pair met at the Turnberry Hotel in South Ayrshire. President Trump called for labor to abolish the controversial inheritance tax on agricultural businesses, and turned his attention to the impact of policy on agriculture.
During the event, he revealed that he had eliminated comparable taxes on US agricultural property and proposed that the UK follow a similar course.
The US President emphasized that many farmers hold business because agriculture represents a “way of life” rather than primarily for profit.
He also highlighted the serious mental health impacts associated with US inheritance tax. This is a situation compared to the current UK inheritance tax system, where concerns about real estate tax liabilities contribute to farmers’ suicide.
The National Land and Business Association (CLA), representing thousands of rural landowners and businesses in England and Wales, issued a harsh warning about the impact of current inheritance tax policies.
CLA Foreign Affairs Director Jonathan Roberts said: “Everyone knows this is a disastrous policy, and Donald Trump knows that.
“I am sure the Minister of Finance knows that too, but more than anything, the farmers and family business owners of the land know that these reforms are devastating.”
He added: “It’s time for the ministers to take a deep breath and accept that they’re wrong. It’s another day when the economy is hurting when their reforms continue to pretend to work every day.”
The NFU also posts on X (formerly Twitter) to reflect these concerns.
Speaking to GB News, Mo Metcalf-Fisher, Director of Foreign Affairs for the Countryside Alliance, said the issue resonated strongly with the rural community.
“Trump is clear. He’s taking big steps to help farmers. Whatever everyone thinks of President Trump, he clearly cares about his farmers.”
“The Prime Minister was sitting here today, and I was staring at him really awkwardly as Trump outlines what he would do. In fact, he disposed of what it was worth inheritance tax there.”
“We have been screaming for the Prime Minister and Rachel Reeves.
“We still have time. I’m grateful that Donald Trump has made this intervention. I don’t know if he was necessarily intended, but he has it.
