Universal, an American company, is going to build it's own version of Disney World in the UK. Thanks Trump. You keep smashing up the world economy.

There’s been talks about Universal and Paramount building theme parks here for over 10 years, the Bedford plan has been in the news since last year. This isn’t anything to do with Trump. They just started Universal studios in China too, theme parks are worldwide.

Not to mention that some of the largest film studios and production companies are here in the UK. Half of Hollywood gets made over here, so a theme park from Universal isn’t a surprise at all. It’s a start idea for the European market.

I think Trump made the talk turn to action Interesting universal put it's money in the UK when trump is all about keeping things inside his wall. He seems to be scaring big business rather than giving it confidence

Universal, Paramount, WB have had their money in the UK for decades. I don’t like Trump but this has nothing to do with him. My friend in Bedford says everyone has known the old brickworks is going to be a universal park for years.

This is more about getting the European markets and building on what is already there. The timing is ironic but they’ve been talking about this alongside Epic. Never thought it was going to happen especially in Bedford.

I reckon Trump will try and stop it but who knows

Universal UK is no more a risk to the US economy than Disneyland Paris is. Trump has zero interest in it.

@Sarah the penguin colony where no human lives is somewhere he still tariffed at 25%. It's even less of a risk but he tariffed it Regardless of whether it's a risk, he said he wants to keep American business on American shores You're talking sense, but he's not

The “penguin jsland” has been explained on the news and is a business move that’s actually quite smart. Countries like China when given tariffs before have moved trade through other countries to circumvent the tariffs. Trump imposed tariffs on little territory islands like this to stop loopholes, he’s not taxing penguins. Look I don’t like the guy but he’s a business man and the penguin island story was jumped on to make the administration look silly. It’s actually a known move done before to avoid countries building things or shipping things through other countries to avoid tariffs. Universal studios in the UK is no risk to your economy. Same as Disneyland Shanghai and Tokyo don’t affect tourism at Anaheim. It’s owned by Comcast, Trump has no interest in stopping a US company from financial expansion.

All I’m trying to say is this decision to build a theme park here has nothing to do with Trump as your post stated. It’s a decision years in the making and it’s not something that Trump has any interest or power to stop. These are huge infrastructure projects and the thing is owned by American stakeholders. It’s literally printing Comcast money, there’s no lose scenario in this for the US. Europeans will be getting on trains and planes to come see this theme park and spend their money, making US owners tons of cash. Building a theme park overseas isn’t “smashing up the world economy”. If Trump was worried about the UK stealing US trade he’d look at why the UKs film industry has boomed over 30% since 2023 and why Hollywood is falling behind. A theme park about movies in a country famous for making them is a no brainer.

@Sarah How can it be smart? Penguin island is not a country so the country hypothesis from the news station doesn't work. Penguin island is officially Australian territory so no circumventing weirdo tariffs

Very true, it’s an Australian territory but the point seems to be NO exception to the tariff rule. Leave one place out and it can change everything. Australia is a huge trade partner of China and has a much lower tariff. For example; Made goods in China, land them in Australia or a territory, get goods forms from Australia and take off for the US. Goods land from Australia with documentation, not Chinese anymore. It’s just to make it clear that no stone is left unturned. A message of sorts, it would be worse if he imposed tariffs and within a month countries were “outsmarting” America and skipping tariffs through random islands. The media just jumped on that island cause it’s meme content and has everyone talking. I say this with a husband who works in TV news.

@Sarah It's not true that there's a NO exception rule. Trump didn't tariff Russia or Belarus from the start so there were exceptions. The media chose the penguin island as it is emblematic of the incompetence and ignorance underlying the tariff hike. Poorer countries subsidise America. This is quite shameful. If iPhones were fully made in America they would cost thousands, not hundreds. All that cheap labour means early deaths and miserable lives for the world's poorest. And surely if China is using Australia as a middleman (it's not as underhand or exploitative as suggested), Trump would need to increase tariffs in Australia too, but he hasn't. No, what he's doing is quite dirty - encouraging the behaviour he prematurely says is happening so when it does because of the hostile conditions he has created, he can eventually justify his actions. So, now he's back tracking on nearly all his ridiculous tariffs. What has he achieved? Absolutely nothing but chaos and destruction.