United States President Donald Trump has warned newly appointed United Kingdom Prime Minister Andy Burnham that he must urgently confront the country’s illegal migration crisis, saying the issue was “killing” Britain.
Trump made the remarks during an interview with GB News on Wednesday when asked whether Burnham had been too quiet on immigration during his first weeks in office.
“He’s going to have to mention it because it’s killing your country,” Trump said. “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. It’s an invasion, and the UK is a prime suspect,” he said.
Trump’s comments came just hours after more than 500 illegal migrants crossed the English Channel in a single day.
Burnham has so far largely steered clear of directly addressing the migrant crisis since taking office on 20 July.
Downing Street was pressed on the issue earlier this week when his spokesman was asked whether the prime minister wanted asylum hotels closed.
“The work on that continues,” the spokesman said, adding there was no change in the work being carried out by the Home Secretary.
Home Office figures published during Burnham’s first week in office showed 172 people crossed the Channel on his first Wednesday in office, followed by 366 on Thursday across just three boats, and a further 103 on Friday.
During their first phone call after Burnham took office, Trump pledged United States support for the new prime minister and the two discussed the US-UK alliance, trade, Middle East security, and efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Trump described the call as having gone “very well.”
(The Whistler)