The two leaders met on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, shaking hands before a brief press conference that marked Burnham’s first public encounter with Trump.
Burnham told reporters the discussion covered a range of issues – from the war in Ukraine and the status of the Falkland Islands to broader trade matters – and that “this relationship matters so much to us, and we’ll build on that.”
Trump responded by calling Burnham a “natural business person” and said the two had “established a good connection in our early discussions,” despite acknowledged differences on some foreign‑policy points.
The meeting comes at a time when the traditionally close U.K.–U.S. alliance has been tested by Trump’s foreign‑policy agenda, including the U.S.–Israeli decision to attack Iran earlier this year, according to the British side.
After the joint remarks, Trump turned critical of Britain’s plan to resolve the status of the U.S.–British military base on Diego Garcia, describing the proposal as “a terrible deal” and saying he does not support it.
The controversy stems from a 2025 agreement in which Britain consented to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while retaining a 99‑year lease on Diego Garcia, the archipelago’s largest island and home to a strategic U.S. base. Implementation of the deal has been stalled by U.S. opposition, a point Trump reiterated in his comments.
Burnham’s remarks suggest both leaders are keen to move past the initial friction and focus on areas of mutual interest, but the disagreement over Diego Garcia signals that key strategic issues will continue to test the partnership.