Donald Trump has weighed in on British politics again, and this time his focus is on Andy Burnham the former Greater Manchester mayor who's increasingly seen as the frontrunner to lead the UK.
Trump's comments, made during a White House appearance Wednesday evening, were blunt and to the point. He doesn't know Burnham well, acknowledged he was "the mayor of a town," but still concluded that they're on opposite ends of the political spectrum. "He's very liberal," Trump said, repeating the phrase "extremely liberal" more than once for emphasis.
The North Sea Obsession
As he's done before with outgoing PM Keir Starmer, Trump used the moment to push his favourite talking point about Britain North Sea oil.
He argued that Burnham's liberal politics likely means he'll keep the North Sea closed to drilling, which Trump views as a massive economic mistake. In his usual freewheeling style, Trump recalled the advice he gave Starmer: open up the North Sea, head to Aberdeen, and get drilling.
"Aberdeen was the hottest city of the whole continent," Trump told reporters. "It was the oil city of Europe, and they closed everything. It was terrible. I couldn't believe it."
He went further, claiming that major oil companies have been lining up to ask for access to UK waters. "I have had every oil company come to see me 'Sir, could you give us access to the UK? We would do anything to drill in the North Sea,'" Trump said.
Norway vs. the UK A Comparison Trump Loves
Trump contrasted Britain's situation with Norway, pointing out that the UK actually buys oil from Norway oil that largely comes from the North Sea while paying a premium for it.
"Norway's got now two trillion dollars in the bank, and the UK is dying," he said, in his characteristically blunt fashion. He called opening up the North Sea "an easy one" and "among the greatest deals in the world."
It's a comparison Trump has made before, and one that clearly frustrates him. In his view, Britain is sitting on enormous energy wealth and choosing not to use it.
A Dig at Starmer and a Parting Shot
Trump also touched on his disappointment with the UK's response to the Iran conflict, though he noted that Starmer "has now gone" a pointed reminder that Britain is in the middle of a political transition.
His relationship with Starmer was complicated. He criticised the former PM on several fronts, particularly over energy policy, yet acknowledged, "I got along well with Starmer. I disagreed with Starmer" suggesting a working relationship, however strained.
What This Means for Burnham
For Andy Burnham, Trump's comments are an early signal of what a potential working relationship with Washington might look like. The two haven't met, and Trump seems to already have his mind made up about where they stand politically.
Whether Burnham manages to warm relations as Starmer eventually did to some degree remains to be seen. But if North Sea oil stays off the table under his leadership, it's a safe bet Trump won't be making a return trip to London anytime soon.
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