UK Labour leader Andy Burnham travels to New York for UN meeting, plans pragmatic discussion with President Trump

Prime Minister Andy Burnham travelled to New York on Monday for the United Nations General Assembly, where he is scheduled to meet U.S. President Donald Trump for the first time on Tuesday. The meeting comes as Burnham seeks to position Britain as a leader on artificial intelligence (AI) and to demonstrate a pragmatic approach to the United States.

Burnham, a former mayor of Greater Manchester, has limited experience in foreign affairs. He has said he will adopt a different style from his predecessor, Labour leader Keir Starmer, who actively courted the U.S. president. Burnham described himself as someone who “tries to work with people” but added that he will disagree with Trump when it is in Britain’s national interest.

Both leaders expressed a willingness to find common ground on AI, emphasizing the technology’s potential benefits while acknowledging the need to manage its risks. Burnham warned against becoming “doom‑mongers” about AI and called for a balanced approach. Trump, meanwhile, has dismissed concerns about AI risks as a “hoax,” underscoring his focus on the technology’s advantages.

In his remarks in New York, Burnham said the United Kingdom should play a leadership role in shaping global AI policy and urged cooperation with the United States to achieve that aim. He indicated that the two leaders could agree on the importance of harnessing AI’s “huge benefits” while remaining clear‑eyed about potential challenges.

The meeting is part of Burnham’s first foray into global diplomacy and will cap his trip to the United Nations, where he is expected to deliver a speech on Britain’s AI strategy. The outcome of the discussion could influence the direction of UK‑US collaboration on emerging technologies.