Wednesday briefing: Can Burnham seek a different path to Trump’s world order?
In today’s newsletter: The PM’s first face‑to‑face with the US president marks a fragile reset Good morning. In the early hours of Tuesday a plane carrying Andy Burnham, a handful of UK ministers, an excited group of British political journalists, and Burnham’s wife, Marie France, landed at a New York airport for one of Burnham’s first major outings as prime minister: a face-to-face meeting with…
On Tuesday morning, Andy Burnham, the new Prime Minister, received his first face-to-face meeting with US President Donald Trump in New York. Despite the historical tension between the two leaders, the meeting was a success. The President, who previously referred to Burnham as the mayor of a small town, was surprisingly receptive to the UK's proposal for international cooperation.
President Trump advocated for a united front against Iran, urging nations to isolate Tehran and reduce global energy prices. His administration's foreign policy and the decision to strike Iran were defended in a passionate speech. However, the meeting also saw criticism from various sources. Anti-immigration activists were condemned for their violent actions, including slashing a rescue worker's inflatable dinghy in the Channel.
Meanwhile, in the UK, there were concerns over children as young as 13 being referred to a specialist clinic for a serious bladder condition potentially caused by the use of ketamine. Additionally, British banks and financial institutions were warned by MPs against investing in Israel's E1 settlement project.
Andy Burnham, during the meeting, hinted at the possibility of seeking a different path in the next UK election. He suggested focusing on the UK's potential rejoining of the EU, but emphasized that his immediate goal was to rebuild relationships with European allies. The meeting marked a delicate attempt to forge a new path in international relations, one that could potentially reshape the global order.
Written by urgent.news from The Guardian US's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
