Burnham criticised Trump in 2017, saying he would not meet him as a matter of principle over his posts
Britain’s Prime Minister Andy Burnham shakes hands with US President Donald Trump during a meeting on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly, in New York City, US, September 22, 2026. REUTERS
The UK is “ready to play our part in the Middle East” conflict, British Premier Andy Burnham told US President Donald Trump during their first meeting in New York on Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Burnham said the UK was prepared to help with efforts to stop the conflict and “open the Strait [of Hormuz].”
“We’re with you that Iran must never be a nuclear power,” he told Trump.
Burnham said the two discussed “issues on trade” and “the Falklands,” as well as immigration. He said he had spoken about his “commitment to get [immigration] to a controlled approach.”
The prime minister also welcomed Trump’s earlier statement that progress was possible on peace in Ukraine.
UK PM Burnham says he and US President Trump have established ‘good connection’
NEW YORK, Sept 22 (Reuters) – British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Tuesday he and US President Donald Trump had “established a good connection in our early discussions” despite their differences on some foreign policy issues as they met for the first time in New York.
Trump called Burnham a “natural business person” after their meeting, where they discussed issues including Ukraine, the status of the Falkland Islands and trade.
“This relationship matters so much to us and we’ll build on that,” Burnham said.
One of the biggest foreign policy challenges facing Burnham will be managing Britain’s relationship with the United States, but he and his officials are likely to be relieved that their first public meeting passed off smoothly.
Long regarded as one of the world’s closest alliances, the partnership has been strained by Trump’s foreign policy agenda, including the US-Israeli decision to attack Iran this year.
After their meeting, Trump again criticised Britain’s plan to resolve the status of a US-British military base on the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia, calling it a “terrible deal”.
Burnham has pledged to find a solution.
Britain last year agreed a deal to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius after more than two centuries of control, while retaining a 99-year lease over its biggest island, Diego Garcia, and its strategic military base.
But the legislation required to implement the agreement was paused because of opposition from the United States.
“I don’t support it. It was a terrible deal,” Trump said on Tuesday.
“Somebody has ownership that never showed up before after decades and centuries. I think it’s ridiculous.”
Earlier British Prime Minister Andy Burnham on Tuesday played down his previous criticism of US President Donald Trump, ahead of a meeting with him in New York.
Speaking to journalists on his flight to the US, Burnham said politicians make comments throughout their careers, but the focus should be on the current relationship.
Burnham has previously been critical of Trump. In 2017, he said he would not meet Trump as a “matter of principle”, citing the president’s “hateful, extremist material” posted online.
Following the storming of the US Capitol by Trump supporters in January 2021, Burnham said: “Any UK politician who gave Trump the time of day should be ashamed right now.”
Burnham said it was now time to move on from them. “Politicians say things throughout their career, but now the important thing is to focus on the moment you are in,” he said.
He said he raised Trump’s previous description of him as “the mayor of a town” in their first phone call.
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“I did say to the president in our first phone call, I said Mr president, Manchester isn’t ‘some town’. I said ‘this is Manchester’.”
“And so yes, the right thing to do is to have a laugh about it, isn’t it, and move beyond it.”
Asked whether he could trust Trump, Burnham said the relationship between the UK and US was deeper than individual political disagreements.
“When you come into this job, you realise how deep this relationship is. We trust our allies. Of course, we do.”
Asked specifically whether he trusted Trump personally, Burnham replied: “Yes.”