US President Donald Trump meets UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham for the first time on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. Trump describes Burnham as a “natural” businessman and says the relationship feels “more up” than it did under Keir Starmer. He also says the leaders discuss areas including energy, immigration, and Rolls-Royce, and that the UK has “a lot of assets on [its] side.”
Alongside the positive tone, Trump criticises the UK’s position on the Chagos Islands deal. He calls the agreement “terrible” and says he does not support returning the islands—home to the strategic Diego Garcia base—to Mauritius. Sources also report that Burnham responds to Trump’s remarks with a more pointed defence of Britain, including mentioning his own broader message for the country and correcting Trump’s earlier reference to Manchester.
Overall, outlets agree on the meeting setting and Trump’s praise for Burnham, while they vary mainly in emphasis: some focus on the upbeat relationship framing and business-style comments, while others highlight the public dispute over Chagos and moments of direct exchange between the two leaders.
