President Donald Trump targeted the United Kingdom’s Chagos Islands deal with sharp words, calling it a major error just after U.S. officials endorsed the plan. In a post on Truth Social, Trump labeled Britain’s decision to cede sovereignty over the Indian Ocean archipelago to Mauritius as driven by ‘fictitious’ territorial claims. He urged London to ‘remain strong in the face of Wokeism.’

The arrangement calls for the U.K. to relinquish control of the Chagos Islands, its final overseas territory in Africa. Britain would secure a 99-year lease on Diego Garcia, the site of a critical U.S.-U.K. military base. London officials maintain the deal locks in the base’s future against rising legal challenges from international courts and opens paths for Chagossians, displaced decades ago, to return.

Trump’s outburst marks his third reversal on the issue in under a year. He backed the pact last May. Weeks later, he branded it ‘total weakness’ and ‘great stupidity.’ Earlier this month, following a call with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump shifted again toward support.

The State Department struck a different tone Tuesday. Spokespeople said Washington backs Britain’s strategy. They announced upcoming bilateral security discussions with Mauritius next week to address base operations.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed the apparent split during a briefing. She insisted Trump’s post reflects official administration policy. ‘The post should be taken as the policy of the Trump administration,’ Leavitt told reporters.

Trump hosted the Board of Peace at the White House earlier Tuesday, though details on that meeting remain sparse. Video from the event shows Trump engaging with the group amid his pointed foreign policy remarks.

The Chagos dispute traces back to 1968, when the U.K. detached the islands from Mauritius before its independence to preserve Diego Garcia for military use. Mauritius has pressed sovereignty claims since, bolstered by a 2019 International Court of Justice advisory opinion deeming U.K. control unlawful. The U.N. General Assembly echoed that stance in a non-binding resolution.

Britain announced the deal’s outline in October after years of negotiations. U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy hailed it as a ‘historic’ step that safeguards security interests while respecting international law. Critics in London, including some Conservatives, decry it as a concession to pressure from the Biden administration and global bodies.

Trump’s intervention highlights tensions within his own team. State Department officials have prioritized steady alliances in the Indo-Pacific. Diego Garcia hosts B-52 bombers, surveillance flights and submarine operations key to countering China. Any disruption risks U.S. strategic footing.

Mauritius Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam welcomed U.S. engagement. His office confirmed preparations for the security talks, focusing on ‘mutual interests’ around the base.

Leavitt’s endorsement elevates Trump’s view above career diplomats. It echoes past episodes where the president overruled agencies on alliances, trade and defense pacts. British officials have yet to respond publicly to the latest salvo.

The timing coincides with broader U.S.-U.K. strains post-Starmer’s Labour victory. Trump and Starmer spoke by phone on Oct. 10, discussing trade, NATO and the Chagos question. Sources close to Downing Street described the call as cordial but noted Trump’s direct style.