DONALD Trump was invited to Manchester by Andy Burnham yesterday — despite once vowing to ban the US President from the city.
The new PM spoke to Mr Trump as one of his first actions in a scramble to try and build bridges.
Andy Burnham has invited Donald Trump to Manchester despite previously vowing to ban the US President from the city Credit: AP
Andy Burnham and Donald Trump struck a warmer tone in their first call, congratulating each other on the World Cup Credit: Getty
Last month the President branded Mr Burnham “extremely liberal” and the new PM has a long track record of publicly deriding his American counterpart.
In 2021 he blasted: “Any UK politician who gave Trump the time of day should be ashamed.”
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And as Manchester Mayor in 2017 he vowed to ban the “deeply troubling” President from the city and called for Trump’s state visit to the UK to be cancelled because of his “extreme views”.
But in their first call yesterday afternoon, Mr Burnham struck a dramatically different tone, congratulating the President on the US-hosted World Cup.
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And Mr Trump congratulated the PM on England’s third-place finish.
Ahead of their call Mr Trump hailed Mr Burnham’s yet-to-be-announced plans for expanding North Sea oil extraction, but that could yet fall far short of Mr Trump’s advice to “drill, baby drill”.
No 10 said last night the President had briefed Mr Burnham on the situation in the Middle East.
A spokesman said Mr Burnham stressed the “UK’s commitment to securing the movement of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz to support global supply chains and drive down costs for businesses and families across the country.”
The appointment of Net Zero devotee Ed Miliband as Foreign Secretary risks flaring tensions due to Mr Trump’s loathing of windmills and his green energy policies Credit: EPA
Trump has backed Burnham’s North Sea oil plans, but the new PM faces pressure to follow the President’s ‘drill, baby drill’ approach Credit: Getty
But the appointment of Net Zero devotee Ed Miliband as Foreign Secretary risks flaring tensions due to Mr Trump’s loathing of windmills and his green energy policies.
Sensitive tech and tariff negotiations remain ongoing.
A major flash point also looms over Mr Burnham’s pledge to force US tech firms to pay more in taxes to fund spending.
It will put him on a collision course with the White House, which has vowed to protect their domestic stars like Google, Apple and Meta.
The pair are due to meet at the UN General Assembly in September, with Mr Burnham expected to travel to Miami in December for the G20 summit.
The UK will host it in 2027, with Manchester the likely venue.
