Donald Trump has dealt a devastating blow to Andy Burnham, the frontrunner to become the next UK prime minister, during a live Sky News interview that prompted a breaking news alert. The US president dismissed Burnham as 'extremely liberal' and criticised his likely stance on North Sea energy, dealing a humiliating setback to the potential leader.
Trump's comments on Burnham
Speaking on Sky News, which halted regular programming to issue a breaking alert, Trump said: 'I don’t know anything. I see that he was, I guess, the mayor of a town? I hear he’s extremely liberal, extremely, so that means he probably won’t open up the North Sea. You know, I gave Keir Starmer some pretty good advice. I said, “Open up the North Sea. Go to Aberdeen” – the hottest city in the whole continent, it was the oil city, the oil of Europe, and they closed everything. I saw it before my eyes and I couldn’t believe it.'
The remarks came after Keir Starmer announced his resignation, making it increasingly likely that Burnham will step into No. 10 without a leadership contest. Trump's comments were the most substantive he has made about the potential new UK prime minister.
Sky News analysis
Sky News US correspondent Mark Stone analysed the exchange, saying: 'Well it was the most substantive comments we’ve had from the US president about the possible new prime minister in the UK – not particularly effusive, as you might imagine.' Stone added: 'When he was asked a little bit later whether he would like Andy Burnham to make the White House his first trip, he said no, and then kind of moved on.'
Stone continued: 'I think clearly he’s been briefed on the politics of Andy Burnham, and he recognises that it’s gonna be pretty similar to that of Keir Starmer, so I think we’re gonna have to wait and see whether there is a rapport between the two men. Remember, there was an unlikely rapport between Starmer and Trump – it went a bit wayward after a while – but in the early days, the early years, it was a good thing.'
Public reaction
Viewers were divided over the segment. One tweeted: 'Who cares what he thinks, he has no say who our PM is.' Another echoed: 'I think everyone in Europe, media, pundits, citizens, would be better off simply just ignoring the pronouncements from the US President for the next two and a half years. Life would be more calm and enjoyable that way.'
