Trump praises Burnham as a ‘natural businessperson’ but lashes out at Chagos deal

US President Donald Trump has described UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham as a leader he can effectively do business with, following their inaugural in-person meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Despite expressing warmth toward the new British premier, Trump sharply criticized the UK’s recent agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.

Speaking to reporters alongside Burnham, Trump said the prime minister is “a natural businessperson” who “gets it” and understands what is required. He noted that the two had already held numerous phone conversations prior to their Tuesday meeting at the UN.

Burnham echoed the positive sentiment, stating that he had established a strong rapport with Trump and that they had built upon that foundation during their discussions on trade and immigration. The British leader also addressed the political climate in his country, telling Trump that Britain has experienced too much turbulence in recent years and that it was time to “turn the story” around.

However, the meeting highlighted significant friction regarding the Chagos Islands. Trump labeled the deal “terrible,” emphasizing the strategic importance of the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia, particularly concerning operations involving Iran. The agreement, which would see the UK cede sovereignty and pay approximately £101 million ($136 million) annually to lease back the base, was paused indefinitely in April after Trump withdrew his support.

When pressed by the BBC on whether the deal was dead, Burnham declined to give a definitive yes or no but insisted that the UK would work diligently to find a resolution. He stressed the critical nature of safeguarding the base for security reasons, both for Britain and its American partners. Burnham confirmed he had discussed the matter with Mauritian Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam ahead of his trip to New York.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage welcomed Trump’s comments, posting on X: “The Chagos deal is dead. Thank God.”

Beyond the Chagos dispute, Burnham used the bilateral talks to reinforce US commitment to the Falkland Islands. The islands remain a point of contention between Britain and Argentina, with Argentine President Javier Milei recently warning of economic sanctions against firms exploiting oil near the territory and declaring the islands a national priority. Burnham assured Trump that Britain would stand firm against threats and defend the right of Falkland Islanders to self-determination.

On the topic of artificial intelligence, divergence between the two leaders emerged. Burnham met with business executives, including Apple CEO Tim Cook, advocating for a unified set of global principles to manage AI risks while unlocking its potential. In contrast, Trump used his own address to reject what he termed a “globalist scheme” to control AI, describing the technology as “super intelligence” that the US will encourage rather than regulate.

Following his extended meeting with Trump, Burnham arrived approximately 10 minutes late for a scheduled discussion with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who reassured him that the delay was understandable.