US President Donald Trump praises UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham as a “natural businessman” and says the US-UK relationship is “more up” than it was under Keir Starmer during their first face-to-face meeting at the UN in New York. Trump describes Burnham as someone with “lots of assets on his side” and says they discuss a range of topics including Rolls-Royce, energy and immigration.
Several outlets report that the meeting includes a contrast between the warm tone of the private exchanges and a sharper public criticism from Trump afterward. While Trump speaks positively about the relationship, he calls the UK’s planned return of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius “terrible” and “ridiculous,” referencing concerns linked to the strategic Diego Garcia military base. Burnham responds by indicating he will work toward a “resolution,” and aides and coverage describe the overall interaction as largely smooth.
Outlets also note that beyond Chagos, other policy issues are expected to shape the relationship, including regulation of artificial intelligence and wider international matters. Coverage differs mainly in emphasis—some foreground Trump’s praise and “getting it” remarks, while others focus on the Chagos criticism and the potential sticking points it introduces—but there is broad agreement on the core events and tone of the encounter.
