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Trump hails Burnham's business sense as the two men hold their first meeting
September 23, 2026
Trump praised Andy Burnham as a business person at their first meeting, while Burnham raised Britain's sanctions on West Bank settlements.
Andy Burnham and US President Donald Trump had spoken by phone numerous times before this visit, which brought the two men together for their first meeting.
Key facts
- Each man kept a blank face while the other spoke: Burnham showed nothing during Trump's remarks on “fake news” media, and Trump showed nothing when Burnham raised the UK's new sanctions on West Bank settlements.
- One statement read: "I do, I think he's a natural business person. We've had a lot of discussions even before this meeting. We've spoken to each other numerous times on the phone. Yeah, I think so, I think so. He gets it. He understands what he has to do."
- Chris Mason, the BBC's political editor, watched the first Trump and Burnham meeting from among the cameras and describes a president trying to sound generous toward his guest.
Donald Trump used his first meeting with Andy Burnham to praise him. The BBC reports Trump calling Burnham "a natural business person" and adding, "He gets it." Trump also told reporters the pair had spoken by phone many times before they sat down together. The New York Times carries the same praise in its account of the meeting.
Politico reports a cooler scene beneath the warm words. Each man sat without expression while the other spoke: Burnham as Trump attacked the media he calls fake news, Trump as Burnham raised Britain's recent sanctions on West Bank settlements. The BBC agrees on that detail, and its political editor, Chris Mason, describes a president trying to be generous from inside the room. The Guardian also carries the event.
The outlets agree on the praise, the prior phone calls and the settlements exchange. What the two men discussed in private, and whether it produced any deal, goes unreported.
Still developing
The latest discussions between Burnham and Trump, and any deal, are where the account stands by the time of draft.
How settled the reporting is
Sources
- BBC — Chris Mason: From inside the room, how Burnham survived first Trump meeting
- politico.eu — Burnham passes his first Trump test — but papers over the cracks
- The Guardian — Ella Baron on Andy Burnham’s visit to the United Nations – cartoon
Toggle read the full reports of 3 of the 5 outlets counted on this event. The other 2 are counted from their headlines and opening sentences.