Burnham says he will challenge Trump if Britain requires

Andy Burnham said he is prepared to publicly challenge Donald Trump when Britain’s interests demand it, using his first major broadcast interview as prime minister to signal that he will not avoid disagreements with Washington.

Speaking to the BBC, Burnham said his first exchange with the U.S. president had been positive and described Trump as “really warm.” But when asked twice whether he trusted Trump, he did not give a direct answer.

“It’s a changing world isn’t it, and you just obviously have to call things as they develop,” Burnham said.

He said he could not promise to align with Trump in every circumstance. “I can’t at any point say that I won’t take a different opinion from him, that I will need to voice a different idea that is right for Britain,” he said.

Asked whether he would call out Trump if that was the right thing to do, Burnham replied, “of course,” adding: “You have to defend your own national interest before anything else. That’s what you’re required to do if you’re to do this job properly.”

The comments come as Washington resumes attacks on Iran, raising the possibility of early friction between the new British government and the Trump administration. The Guardian reported that Burnham is maintaining the policy followed under Keir Starmer of not backing U.S. offensive operations in Iran, a stance that drew public criticism from Trump.

Burnham told the BBC he had “concern” about the president starting the conflict with Iran and said he “wouldn’t hold back from saying what I think is right.”

Wes Streeting, the new defence secretary, also said the government had made clear to the United States that Britain would not support offensive action in Iran. Speaking to Sky News’ Sunday with Trevor Phillips, Streeting said he had spoken with his U.S. counterpart, Pete Hegseth.

“I was clear that we have not supported offensive action in Iran and we won’t support offensive action in Iran,” Streeting said. “But there are plenty of things that we can and should do together.”

Streeting said he did not believe the Trump administration wanted allies who “suck up,” but instead valued candour. “My impression is, President Trump, his administration – that’s not what they’re looking for. He’s a straight talker,” he said.

Asked whether he trusted Trump, Streeting said: “I don’t know him, but I do trust the United States.” He added that his defence role had given him “a unique insight into just how close and integral that relationship is when it comes to defence and security.”

Burnham also addressed defence spending, declining to set a date for raising the defence budget to 3% of GDP. His chancellor, John Healey, resigned from the previous government after arguing that unless Britain committed to that level by 2030, the country would not be safe.

“I appointed my new chancellor very aware of what he had said about the critical importance of defence spending and the position that he had taken about that,” Burnham said. He added that the immediate task was to ensure “the defence investment plan is fully funded” ahead of the budget later this year.

Pressed again on the 3% target, he said: “We’ve got to work out the way of doing that.”

Streeting said any increase in defence spending must be used carefully, citing “longstanding issues” with procurement and value for money.

Burnham also ruled out an early general election before 2029. “I’m going to rule it out,” he told the BBC. “I don’t think people want it.” He said voters had backed a manifesto in 2024 and that his focus was “getting the country back where it should be.”