Burnham passes his first Trump test — but papers over the cracks

Andy Burnham, the U.K. Prime Minister, met with former President Donald Trump for their first encounter, with a senior government official remarking on the objective to gauge Trump's assessment of Burnham's performance as compared to the previous Prime Minister. As they exchanged words in the UN basement, Trump acknowledged the improving U.S.-U.K. relations, and then criticized Keir Starmer, Burnham's predecessor, for his tough stance on Russia.

This comment might've pleased Starmer, who had welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Britain following a rebuke from Trump.

Despite initially aiming to appear more subdued during the meeting, Burnham found similarities to Starmer's early interactions with Trump. Both leaders refrained from public disagreements, and both gave each other the benefit of the doubt. Burnham addressed immigration, an issue Trump had also targeted at Starmer; and he even praised Burnham's "great election win."

However, the meeting revealed cracks in their relationship. Trump interrupted Burnham's speech on global AI standards, criticizing the idea as "globalist." While Burnham did not bring up AI during their time together, the absence of the topic in the official readout highlighted the divide. Additionally, Burnham expressed support for the Falkland Islands' sovereignty, despite Trump's recent comments favoring Argentina's claim.

On a more constructive note, Burnham requested Trump to push for an "energy ceasefire" between Ukraine and Russia, a move that could prove influential in the ongoing conflict. Despite the meeting's initial challenges, both sides seemed to view it as a positive start. Burnham's future interactions with Trump, including a potential golf outing at one of his resorts, will be critical in determining whether the newfound respect translates into sustained cooperation.