Trump and Burnham (Image: GETTY)
Donald Trump has issued a bombshell statement on Prime Minister Andy Burnham after the US President was asked about the UK. Responding to a question from GB News while speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Mr Trump said Europe faced “two things” that were “killing” the continent before renewing his call for Britain to expand North Sea oil drilling and revealing details of his recent phone call with the Prime Minister.
He said: “Look, you have to stop illegal immigration in Europe. I know you’re better than anybody, better than the people that run it and have great relationships. Two things are killing Europe. Number one is immigration. Number two is energy. When you look at the UK, they have one of the best energy fields in the world, North Sea oil. Now, I think your new Prime Minister is going to actually open it up. From what I hear, I spoke to him and he sounded terrific on this subject.” Mr Trump then warned Britain risked becoming “a bankrupt country” if it failed to increase drilling, saying: “But if you open it up, you’ll be a wealthy country. If you keep it closed, you’re going to be a bankrupt country, which is what you are now.”
Donald Trump in the Oval Office, where he discussed Prime Minister Andy Burnham (Image: Getty Images)
He continued: “Essentially, you’re a bankrupt country, but you have one of the greatest energies, the North Sea oil.
“You know, the UK buys its energy from Norway, who gets the energy from the North Sea? Not as vibrant a part of the North Sea, oil-wise. You’re sitting on top of gold.
“And it’s better than gold. And you don’t do anything with it. It doesn’t work. You don’t allow the oil companies in, and it doesn’t work.”
Mr Trump then reflected on his conversation with Mr Burnham, saying: “I spoke with your new Prime Minister. I was very impressed.” He continued: “I said, look, ‘You can be a wealthy country or a bankrupt country’.”
The US President also said he believed the pair would have a “good relationship”.
The leaders spoke shortly after Mr Burnham entered Downing Street on July 20. During the conversation, the Prime Minister invited Mr Trump to visit Manchester, while Downing Street said they discussed trade, defence, the Middle East and economic growth before agreeing to speak again soon.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who Donald Trump said he was “very impressed” by (Image: Jack Taylor/Reuters Pool via AP)
During the call, Mr Burnham invited Mr Trump to visit Manchester, while Downing Street said the leaders discussed trade, defence, the Middle East and the Prime Minister’s plans for economic growth.
The warmer tone followed Mr Trump’s Truth Social post last month, in which he claimed Mr Burnham had “stated” he would be “opening up, all the way, the invaluable North Sea Oil”.
The US President said the move would transform Britain “from a Poverty Stricken Disaster, to one of the Richest Countries anywhere in the World”.
However, Mr Burnham has made no such pledge, instead saying he would take a “pragmatic” approach to the North Sea while signalling he intends to stick to Labour’s manifesto commitment not to issue new oil and gas exploration licences.
The relationship between the two leaders has shifted markedly in recent weeks. Before Mr Burnham entered Downing Street, Mr Trump admitted he knew little about the Labour leader, describing him as “extremely liberal”.
At the time, he added: “I guess he was the mayor of a town… so that means he probably won’t open up the North Sea.”
However, Mr Trump suggested relations had improved since the pair’s first conversation, saying: “I think we’re going to have a very good relationship.
“We’ll see. I’m not going to tell him how to run his country.”
The President went on to renew his criticism of Europe’s immigration policies, adding: “But I can tell you, immigration is an incredible problem for Europe. You’re allowing people in that, in many cases, are not going to help you. I’m going to be nice. They’re not going to help you.”
Mr Trump also criticised Europe’s energy policies, saying: “They have windmills all over the place. Windmills, you lose your shirt.”
He added: “Any country with windmills is a loser. Okay, you just have to look.”
Despite Mr Trump’s repeated calls to expand North Sea drilling, Mr Burnham has maintained he will take a “pragmatic” approach while sticking to Labour’s manifesto pledge not to issue new oil and gas exploration licences.
Meanwhile, he has promoted Ed Miliband, a strong supporter of that policy, to Foreign Secretary, while Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh has said oil and gas will remain “part of the mix”.
