Burnham anticipates first Trump meeting after earlier criticism
Andy Burnham has said he is "looking forward" to his first face-to-face meeting with Donald Trump, despite previously suggesting he would not give the US president "the time of day". Challenged on the apparent U-turn during a London supermarket visit, Burnham argued that politicians often say things in the moment and that his approach has always been to find common ground with people once he meets them, adding this was in the "British public's interest" given his current role.
The prime minister said he had already had a positive phone call with Trump on his first day in office and revealed he is "likely" to travel to New York for the UN General Assembly, held between 22 and 28 September, though details remain unconfirmed. Speaking to Bloomberg in Ukraine, Burnham indicated he would use any encounter to press Trump, alongside European leaders, for greater support for Kyiv. It would mark his first US visit as premier, drawing comparisons with Keir Starmer's initially successful but later strained relationship with Trump, with it still unclear whether Trump will attend the UN session or whether a Washington leg might be added.
- Burnham says he's "looking forward" to meeting Trump despite past criticism
- PM may attend UN General Assembly in New York, September 22-28
- He plans to lobby Trump for more support for Ukraine
New here? Start with this
Andy Burnham is the UK prime minister, and Donald Trump is the president of the United States. The two countries have close ties, so meetings between their leaders can affect cooperation on security, trade and other shared issues.
Ukraine is also a major point of discussion between the US and European governments. Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, Ukraine has relied on military and financial support from its allies, and the level of future US support could influence the course of the war.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Burnham's approach reflects pragmatic statesmanship: as prime minister, his duty is to advance British interests, including pressing Trump on Ukraine support, which requires productive engagement regardless of past rhetoric. His argument that politicians speak differently in opposition versus office acknowledges the reality of diplomacy, where personal feelings must yield to national advantage, and his willingness to find common ground demonstrates the flexibility necessary for effective leadership.
The case against
The apparent reversal from saying he would not give Trump 'the time of day' to welcoming the meeting suggests either unprincipled flexibility or insincere earlier convictions. Critics see this as compromising stated values for diplomatic convenience—precisely the kind of expedient compromising that erodes political consistency and moral clarity, undermining the principle-based leadership that should distinguish serious politicians.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Andy Burnham ‘looking forward’ to first meeting with Trump – as PM suggests he was just ‘saying what he felt’ when he condemned the president”.