Chris Mason: In the Room with the President and Prime Minister
BBC News reports on a meeting between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Andy Burnham at the United Nations.
By Chris Mason, Political Editor
Published 52 minutes ago
As I squeezed between cameras, aiming to catch Trump's eye for a question, I listened to the president attempting to exude magnanimity. Remember, Trump is capable of both warmth and acerbic remarks depending on his mood.
Prime Minister Burnham, still relatively new in his role, sat next to one of the world's most powerful leaders. Put like that, it seems credible when Burnham expressed anticipation for the meeting, but there may have been a hint of nervousness too. He appeared slightly anxious as journalists entered the room, but generally, Trump heaped compliments on him.
Initially, plans called for journalists to be admitted at the start of the meeting, perhaps just minutes after their first encounter. Instead, we waited while private discussions took place, allowing them to share more details about each other and their conversations. Burnham was aware—the world is aware—how unpredictable these live-on-camera encounters with Trump can be. It's like riding a rollercoaster without a harness.
Having positioned myself in Trump's line of sight, I waited for the final word of Burnham's opening remarks before asking my question: "Was the prime minister someone you could do business with, considering your political differences?"
"I do," Trump replied, "I think he's a natural businessman. We've had lots of discussions even before this meeting. We've spoken numerous times on the phone. Yeah, I think so. He gets it. He understands what he has to do." The warmth was evident. Perhaps Downing Street nerves had abated slightly.
But how long would the questioning continue? Trump controls the length of these public performances, often lasting well over half an hour.
This meeting took place in a neutral venue—a windowless, nondescript room deep within the UN building. Unlike the Oval Office, perhaps that reduced the sense of occasion slightly.
Despite the setting, how long could Trump maintain the friendly atmosphere and agreement? A question about immigration, usually a point of contention, passed without incident. Likewise, Burnham's government's decision to sanction settlements in the West Bank, angering Israel, was also smoothly navigated.
However, when it came to the future of the Chagos Islands, Trump voiced his disapproval of Britain's decision to cede sovereignty to Mauritius and then rent back Diego Garcia military base. "I think the prime minister is going to be looking at [the deal]," Trump said, to which Burnham simply replied "yep."
Later, I conducted a short interview with Burnham on behalf of all broadcasters present.