TRUMP CALLS FOR STRONGER ACTION ON ILLEGAL MIGRATION FROM NEW UK PRIME MINISTER
Read Time:2 Minute, 27 Second
By:Tajudeen Aminat
United States President Donald Trump has urged British Prime Minister Andy Burnham to take stronger action against illegal migration, warning that the issue is seriously harming the United Kingdom.
Speaking with GB News on Wednesday, Trump said Burnham would eventually have to confront the immigration challenge, even if he had avoided discussing it since taking office.
“He’s going to have to mention it because it’s killing your country,” Trump said.
Criticising Burnham’s predecessor, Sir Keir Starmer, Trump added, “I know Starmer did very little about it, and they’re coming from all over the world.
“They’re coming from Africa. They’re coming from South America. They’re coming from different parts of Asia. They’re invading Europe,” he said, describing the influx as “an invasion” and claiming the UK had become a major target.
Trump’s remarks came after GB News reported that more than 500 migrants crossed the English Channel into Britain on Wednesday. According to the broadcaster, people smugglers launched 11 small boats from multiple locations along the French and Belgian coast, with departures stretching from Belgium to the French port of Dieppe.
The comments also coincided with mounting pressure on Burnham’s government over its plans to address the asylum system. Asked earlier this week whether the Prime Minister intended to close asylum hotels, a Downing Street spokesperson said, “The work on that continues,” adding that there had been “no change” to the Home Secretary’s ongoing efforts.
Home Office figures cited by GB News showed that 172 migrants crossed the Channel on the Wednesday of Burnham’s first week in office, followed by 366 on Thursday in three boats and another 103 on Friday.
Trump also reflected on his early dealings with Burnham, describing the British leader as facing a daunting task. On Burnham’s first day in Downing Street, Trump remarked that he had “a big job ahead of him.”
Speaking about a recent phone conversation, Trump said the call was “interesting, and went very well,” adding, “I wished Prime Minister Burnham, GOOD LUCK AND GODSPEED!”
According to the report, relations between the two leaders have remained largely stable during Burnham’s early weeks in office, although North Sea oil drilling has emerged as a potential point of disagreement.
A day before Burnham succeeded Starmer, Trump called on him to expand North Sea oil drilling, arguing it would transform the UK “from a poverty-stricken disaster to one of the richest countries anywhere in the world.”
The report also said officials in Washington had expressed concerns over Burnham’s appointment of Ed Miliband as Foreign Secretary because of his past criticism of Trump.
Despite those concerns, efforts to strengthen UK-US ties are said to be continuing, while Burnham has maintained Britain’s policy of allowing US forces to use British military bases for what the government has described as “defensive” operations linked to the conflict involving Iran.
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