Trump Says US-UK Ties Are Better With Burnham Than With Starmer
The two leaders met face-to-face for the first time at the United Nations in New York, but big disagreements remain on AI, Iran, and the Chagos Islands.
US President Donald Trump met UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham face-to-face for the first time at the United Nations in New York. Trump said the relationship between the US and the UK is stronger now than it was under former Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The two leaders discussed major topics including the war in Iran, artificial intelligence rules, and a disputed British military base in the Indian Ocean.
Trump praised Burnham during the meeting, calling him 'a natural businessperson' with 'lots of assets on his side.' He predicted Burnham would be a 'great' prime minister. Burnham said the two leaders had built on a 'good connection' they had formed earlier, and UK officials were relieved the meeting went according to plan.
Burnham had hoped to convince Trump to ease tensions with Iran during the trip. The conflict has caused global energy prices to rise, putting pressure on the UK economy and making life more expensive for many British families. Trump showed no sign of changing course, repeating his threat to 'annihilate' Iran if it does not agree to a peace deal with the United States.
When asked if he felt bad for countries struggling with higher prices due to the war, Trump said the situation would improve. He claimed that 'as soon as the war is over the prices are going to come way down.' He also said people understand the importance of stopping Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, even if it causes short-term price increases.
A major area of disagreement between the two leaders was artificial intelligence, or AI. Burnham wants world leaders to agree on a single set of global rules to make AI safer, and he plans to make this a focus of the UK's leadership of the G20 next year. Trump strongly disagreed, saying the US 'totally rejects' any global effort to control AI, calling safety concerns a 'hoax' and vowing to encourage the technology instead of restricting it.
Trump also criticized the UK's agreement to hand control of the Chagos Islands to the island nation of Mauritius. Under the deal, the UK would keep using the military base at Diego Garcia but pay for the privilege. Trump called it 'a terrible deal' and hinted that Burnham might reconsider it, and Burnham nodded and said 'yeah' in response.
On a brighter note, Trump agreed to raise the case of Jimmy Lai — a jailed pro-democracy activist from Hong Kong — when he meets with China's leader Xi Jinping. British officials suggested Lai could potentially live in the UK if released. Trump also said US-UK relations are strong, telling reporters: 'I think right now, based on my relationship with your prime minister, Andy, I think we're doing very well.'
UN Secretary-General António Guterres offered a very different view of the world in his own speech. He warned about rising conflict, climate change, and the dangers of fast-moving AI technology. Without naming Israel, he described the military campaign in Gaza following the October 2023 Hamas attack as involving 'a scale of killing and destruction unlike anything I have witnessed in all my years as secretary-general.'
"I think right now, based on my relationship with your prime minister, Andy, I think we're doing very well."
Comprehension quiz preview
1. Where did Trump and Burnham meet for the first time in person?
2. What did Trump call Burnham during their meeting?
3. What deal about the Chagos Islands did Trump criticize?