US President Donald Trump praised his relationship with UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham at the UN assembly in New York, despite ongoing tensions over AI regulation, the Chagos Islands and the war in Iran.
Key facts
- Trump and Burnham held their first face-to-face meeting at the UN General Assembly in New York.
- Trump said his relationship with the UK is 'more up' under Burnham than under Keir Starmer.
- He described Burnham as a 'natural businessperson' with 'lots of assets on his side'.
- Tensions remain over AI regulation, the Chagos Islands and the war in Iran, according to the Guardian.
US President Donald Trump has said his relationship with the United Kingdom is ‘more up’ under Prime Minister Andy Burnham than it was under Keir Starmer, despite continuing tensions between the two countries on a range of contentious issues, according to the Guardian.
The comments came as the two leaders met face to face for the first time at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The Guardian reported that Burnham sat nervously alongside Trump during the encounter.
Trump praised Burnham as a ‘natural businessperson’, saying he thought the prime minister had ‘lots of assets on his side’ and would be a ‘great’ prime minister.
The warm words came against a backdrop of disagreement between Washington and London on several thorny matters, including the regulation of artificial intelligence, the future of the Chagos Islands and the war in Iran, according to the Guardian.
Despite those tensions, Trump’s framing suggested he viewed the current state of the transatlantic relationship favourably, drawing an explicit contrast with the period under Starmer.
The meeting marks an early test of relations between the Trump administration and Burnham’s government, with the two leaders taking the opportunity of the UN gathering to hold their first direct talks.
Why it matters
The relationship between the US president and the UK prime minister shapes cooperation on trade, security and global crises. Public warmth alongside unresolved disputes over AI, the Chagos Islands and Iran signals both opportunity and friction as the two governments begin working together.
Frequently asked questions
What did Trump say about Andy Burnham?
Trump called Burnham 'a natural businessperson', said he had 'lots of assets on his side' and would be a 'great' prime minister, and stated relations with the UK were 'more up' than under Keir Starmer, according to the Guardian.
Where did Trump and Burnham meet?
The two leaders held their first face-to-face meeting at the UN General Assembly in New York, according to the Guardian.
What issues are causing tension between the US and UK?
The Guardian reported tensions over the regulation of artificial intelligence, the Chagos Islands and the war in Iran.