Chris Mason: In the room with the president and the prime minister
BBC political editor Chris Mason reports on the first meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham. Despite political differences, the encounter was characterized by a surprisingly warm tone and mutual professional respect.
Why it matters
The meeting sets the tone for the future diplomatic and economic relationship between the current U.S. administration and the new UK government.
Image source, Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images By Chris Mason Political editor Published 57 minutes ago As I crouched between the cameras, determined to catch Donald Trump's eye and ask a question, I listened to a president seeking to be magnanimous.
Remember, Trump can and does do warmth when he wants to, as well as acerbic.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham, a mayor a matter of months ago, sat next to the most powerful man in the world.
Put like that, it sounds believable when he said in advance he was looking forward to the meeting, but there must have been a jab of nerves too.
Burnham did look a little nervous as us reporters trooped into the room, but then, for the most part, the compliments flowed from the president.
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