If Andy Burnham becomes the British prime minister later this month as expected, one of his first calls will likely be to US President Donald Trump. Trump, whose mother was Scottish, has a nostalgic fascination with Britain but has proven to be an erratic and demanding partner for previous UK leaders.

Since Trump’s return to power in January 2025, managing the US-UK relationship has been challenging. Then-Prime Minister Keir Starmer sought to strengthen ties by inviting Trump for a second state visit to the UK, described as "unprecedented." However, tensions arose over issues including Trump’s threats to Greenland, criticism of British troops in Afghanistan, and perceptions of UK’s stance on the Iran conflict. Trump reportedly insulted British leadership by saying, “This is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with.”

With Starmer’s recent resignation, Trump will now face his fourth British prime minister during his five-and-a-half years in the White House. Unlike his predecessors, Burnham is relatively unknown in the US, having been mayor of Greater Manchester, a region of 3 million people in northwest England, where he earned the nickname "king of the north."

In his victory speech, Burnham urged British voters to reject the divisive politics seen in the United States. Nina Sawetz, a communications adviser from Burnham’s mayoral team, said the new prime minister’s instinctive approach to Trump’s provocations will focus on "outcomes and interests for the UK, rather than compete on personalities."

Philippe Dickinson, deputy director of the transatlantic security initiative at the Atlantic Council in Washington, noted that while Burnham is politically different from Trump, he does not define himself as an "anti-Trump guy."

The evolving dynamic between Burnham and Trump will be closely watched as it may set the tone for a new era in US-UK relations.

Sources