British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband on Wednesday encountered questions regarding his previous descriptions of Donald Trump as a "racist" and "misogynist" during a visit to Washington D.C. for discussions with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Miliband, who has reportedly been nicknamed "Ed Miliwatt" by senior figures in the Trump administration, largely sidestepped the inquiries while posing for photos ahead of the scheduled talks.
Miliband stated, "We are looking forward to our meeting," as he shook hands with Rubio. The agenda for their meeting was expected to include efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and the situation in Gaza.
The nickname "Ed Miliwatt" is reportedly a jest related to Miliband's commitment to the Net Zero agenda, a policy he strongly advocated for during his tenure as the UK's energy secretary. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright is among those said to have used the moniker.
Miliband's appointment as Foreign Secretary under Prime Minister Andy Burnham places him in a position to address the "Special Relationship" between the UK and the U.S. However, concerns have been raised that his past critical remarks about Trump could complicate efforts to stabilize transatlantic ties. In 2018, Miliband had labeled Trump a "racist" and "misogynist," also alleging a "peculiar relationship with Russia" and "very scary authoritarian tendencies."
Further foreign policy considerations stem from Miliband's stance as Labour leader in 2013, when he instructed Labour MPs to vote against then-Prime Minister David Cameron's proposed military action against Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad following reports of chemical weapons use. The defeat of the motion in the House of Commons was later cited as a factor in then-U.S. President Barack Obama's decision to withdraw plans for punitive strikes. Miliband has since stated he does not regret the vote, even after Assad fled Syria following rebel advances.
Prior to his role as Foreign Secretary, Miliband served as energy secretary. His promotion to the Foreign Office was seen by some as a consolation after he was widely considered a contender for Chancellor. Reports indicated that some senior officials in the Trump administration had privately expressed reservations about Miliband holding the Chancellor position, citing concerns over his opposition to new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea.
This stance on fossil fuels aligns with frequent public criticism from Trump, who has advocated for the UK to exploit North Sea oil reserves. "When you look at the UK, they have one of the best energy fields in the world, North Sea oil," Trump stated recently. "But you open it up, you'll be a wealthy country. You keep it closed, you're going to be a bankrupt country, which is what you are now."
Miliband's visit to Washington was at the invitation of Secretary Rubio, following their initial meeting on the sidelines of a foreign ministers' summit in the Philippines the previous month.
