'He's got a big job ahead of him!' Donald Trump issues first public verdict on Andy Burnham after phoning new PM
Donald Trump has given his verdict on Andy Burnham after a phone call between the two leaders.
The President said the two discussed a variety of topics during the "interesting" call on Monday.
Mr Trump said: "The Prime Minister has got a big job ahead of him, but he will be able to do it and, of course, the USA will be there to help!"
The Commander-in-Chief said he would be meeting the Prime Minister in the "not too distant future" to discuss "topics of mutual interest".
He added: "We discussed North Sea oil, trade, the military alliance, demining of the Hormuz Strait, and many other topics.
"The call was interesting, and went very well. I wished Prime Minister Burnham, GOOD LUCK AND GODSPEED!"
Downing Street earlier said the two "looked forward to speaking again soon" in a call which came shortly after Mr Burnham took office.
The Prime Minister said he looked forward to showing Mr Trump "what Manchester had to offer".
Mr Burnham also told the President the security of the UK and its allies was the top of his agenda - a challenge which newly-appointed Defence Secretary Wes Streeting will now have to face.
Downing Street notably did not mention the subject of North Sea oil after President Trump praised Mr Burnham and said he would "open up the North Sea".
Mr Trump also said people were "dancing in the streets" and the Government would "move the old and horrible looking windmills, which loom over and destroy the city of Aberdeen".
But it has since emerged the Prime Minister will stick to Labour's 2024 manifesto and not issue new exploratory licences in the North Sea.
Rosebank and Jackdaw, two oil fields in the North Sea, were issued licences in 2022 and 2023 under the Conservative Government, but faced a legal challenge in 2025.
Deputy Labour Leader and new Education Secretary Lucy Powell told the BBC the Government's approach to the controversial oil fields would not be "a change in policy, more of a change in emphasis", adding that the Prime Minister would be taking a "pragmatic approach" to the industry.
Mr Burnham has since appointed Miatta Fahnbulleh as Energy Secretary, who is said to have helped shaped his economic policy and previously accused Zack Polanski of stealing her vision for a greener, fairer economy.
It remains unclear exactly what Mr Burnham will do concerning the North Sea, but he shared his plans on managing the UK-US relationship in an interview with Gary Lineker last week.
He said: "It's about being yourself, isn’t it? It's about respecting the office, the relationship, the UK-US relationship.
"Where you disagree, do it. But do it in a way that is kind of meeting him where he's at."
The pair may also clash over the Iran war - with Government officials briefing Mr Burnham the conflict could escalate this week, sources familiar with the matter told Bloomberg.
British officials are currently considering when a first meeting would occur - possibly during the annual meeting of the United Nations General Assembly in September, according to the New York Times.