U.S. President Donald Trump offered "good luck and Godspeed" to the United Kingdom's new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, in their first phone conversation, which took place less than an hour after Burnham assumed office. Trump described the call as "very good" and indicated that the two leaders would meet in the near future.
During the discussion, the leaders touched upon several topics, including North Sea oil, trade, and military alliances, as well as demining operations in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump conveyed his remarks on social media, stating that Burnham has "a big job ahead of him, but he will be able to do it and, of course, the U.S.A. will be there to help!"
The call occurred before Burnham had appointed his new cabinet. A Downing Street spokesperson reported that Burnham congratulated Trump on the World Cup and extended an invitation for the President to visit Manchester. The spokesperson also stated that Burnham emphasized his commitment to defense and security, noting it as a top priority for both the UK and its allies.
Burnham's administration also reached out to other world leaders on his first day, including President Zelensky of Ukraine and President Macron of France, to reaffirm the UK's commitments. These calls were made amidst Burnham's efforts to assemble his new cabinet.
Cabinet Reshuffle
Burnham implemented significant changes to his cabinet, appointing allies to key positions. John Healey was named Chancellor, Ed Miliband became Foreign Secretary, and Shabana Mahmood retained her role as Home Secretary. Wes Streeting was appointed Defence Secretary, and Angela Rayner returned to cabinet as Housing Secretary. Other appointments included Yvette Cooper as Health Secretary and Jonathan Reynolds as Business Secretary. This reshuffle followed a purge of senior figures from the previous government, with several Starmer loyalists being removed from their posts.
Despite past criticism from Burnham towards Trump, the U.S. President appeared willing to engage constructively. In 2019, Burnham had called for the cancellation of a planned state visit by Trump, citing concerns about the impact on British communities and criticizing the "extreme views emanating from the Oval Office." He had previously stated that any UK politician who engaged with Trump should be ashamed.
