Donald Trump was seemingly in a good mood during his first meeting with Andy Burnham in New York on Tuesday, instead directing his criticisms at former UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer
A very “nervous” Andy Burnham caught Trump “in a good mood” during their first in person meeting in New York today before the US President delivered a brutal dig to former UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he and Donald Trump have “established a good connection in our early discussions and we’ve taken that further today” as they met for the first time.
The US President opened a meeting between the two men at the United Nations General Assembly by saying: “It’s an honour to be with the Prime Minister here – a great election win. That was a big one, and I think he’s going to be a great Prime Minister. I think he’s got a lot of assets on his side. And we talked about everything from Rolls-Royce to energy to immigration – we covered a lot.”
Mr Trump added: “It’s a really special country and we are with you all the way Mr Prime Minister.”
Mr Burnham replied: “Thank you Mr President, that’s wonderful. We really appreciate that. This relationship matters so much to us and we’ll build on that relationship. You and I have established a good connection in our early discussions and we’ve taken that further today.”
Journalist Narinder Kaur said Trump seemed to be in a good mood and “spoke positively about Burnham”. She wrote on X: “Personally- Burnham looked uncomfortable and out his depth. Starmer was far more confident.”
Others also pointed out now Burnham looked “nervous” and “anxious” in Trump’s presence. But, luckily for Burnham, Trump then directed his customary criticisms towards the former UK PM Keir Starmer instead.
Put to him by a reporter that UK-US relations have been up and down, Trump replied: “No I think they’re up. Well they’re more up now than they were with your last prime minister, let me put it that way.”
Chris Mason of the BBC said: “No10 will be breathing a hearty sigh of relief.”
However, Trump did tell Burnham that the UK’s agreement with Mauritius to hand over the Chagos Islands is a “terrible deal” and “ridiculous”. Asked by reporters about the deal after a bilateral meeting on the fringes of the United Nations General Assembly, the US President said: “I don’t support it. I think it’s a terrible deal.
“They all of a sudden say they have ownership, somebody has ownership that never showed up before after decades and centuries. I think it’s ridiculous. No, we were talking about that.
“It’s strategically very important, very important. You know, we had to send our B-2 bombers when we bombed the Iran nuclear, we sent the B-2 bombers back home to Missouri. As opposed to flying for a short period of time, they had to fly for a long period of time.
“It’s amazing how strategic it is, and I think the Prime Minister is going to be looking at it. It’s very strategic location. And it’s unique… It’s a very important piece of real estate, militarily and strategically.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said the deal to cede the British Indian Ocean Territory to Mauritius was “dead”, adding: “Thank God.”
He posted on X shortly after US President Donald Trump, appearing alongside Prime Minister Andy Burnham, said the deal was “terrible” and “ridiculous”. Mr Farage wrote: “The Chagos deal is dead. Thank God.”
Meanwhile, Trump hailed the impact of a new security deal between the United States and Denmark over Greenland. Speaking as he and the prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland signed the agreement, he said: “This is tremendous for Europe and for the United States, for everybody, and for Greenland.
“It’s going to be incredible, and the people of Greenland have been so nice. The people of Denmark have been amazing, and so I know it’s going to be a long-term, fantastic relationship.”
Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen hailed the longstanding relationship between the US and Denmark, of which Greenland is an autonomous territory.
She said: “I am very proud to say that in the Kingdom of Denmark, the United States has a friend that has always kept our word, an ally who has always been able to always kept our word, an ally you have always been able to rely on, and this day represents a milestone in our long-standing co-operation.”
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