British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband on Wednesday did not directly answer questions about his past statements calling Donald Trump a "racist" and "misogynist" during his visit to Washington D.C. for talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Miliband, who was meeting Rubio for discussions expected to cover the Strait of Hormuz, the war in Ukraine, and the situation in Gaza, sidestepped the inquiries as he posed for photographs with his U.S. counterpart.
"We are looking forward to our meeting," Miliband stated, shaking hands with Rubio.
Miliband's trip occurs as he reportedly faces the informal moniker "Ed Miliwatt" among senior figures in the Trump administration. This nickname is said to be a jest related to the energy generated by Miliband's Net Zero agenda, which he championed as the UK's energy secretary. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright is reportedly among those who have used the nickname.
As the new Foreign Secretary, Miliband has been tasked with strengthening the United Kingdom's relationship with the United States. However, his prior critical remarks about Trump, made in 2018 when he labeled the then-President a "racist" and "misogynist" with a "peculiar relationship with Russia," and condemned his "very scary authoritarian tendencies," could potentially complicate diplomatic efforts.
Miliband's foreign policy record also includes his stance as Labour leader in 2013, when he directed Labour MPs to vote against then-Prime Minister David Cameron's proposal for military action against Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad. The UK Parliament's rejection of the motion was later seen as a factor in then-U.S. President Barack Obama's decision to withdraw plans for punitive strikes against the Assad regime. In 2024, Miliband stated he did not regret voting to block military action in Syria.
Miliband's appointment as Foreign Secretary, following his tenure as energy secretary, has been viewed by some as a lesser role than if he had been named Chancellor, a position he was rumored to be considered for. Reports suggest that senior officials in the Trump administration had privately expressed reservations about such an appointment, citing concerns over Miliband's opposition to new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea. Trump himself has publicly criticized the UK government's policies on fossil fuels, suggesting that opening up North Sea resources would lead to national wealth, while keeping them closed would lead to national bankruptcy.