The appointment of Ed Miliband as the United Kingdom's foreign secretary has drawn sharp criticism from allies of former President Donald Trump, who warn the move could create significant tension in the U.S.-U.K. relationship. Miliband, a vocal critic of Trump, also champions policies that clash with the former president's agenda, particularly on energy.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham appointed Miliband to the foreign secretary role on Monday, replacing Yvette Cooper. Miliband, who previously led the Labour Party and served as secretary for energy security and net zero, is now Britain's chief diplomat and a key counterpart to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Concerns over Miliband's past statements and policy positions have been amplified by Trump's allies. Steve Bannon, a former White House chief strategist, told The Daily Telegraph that the Trump administration viewed Miliband's appointment as "very injurious" to the special relationship between the two countries. While Bannon does not hold an administration position, reports suggest the Trump administration had previously signaled opposition to Miliband taking a senior role.
Miliband has not shied away from criticizing Trump. During Trump's first presidential campaign, Miliband described him as "a racist, misogynistic, self-confessed groper." These comments resurfaced in a 2024 interview when he was questioned about how he would work with the then-incoming president.
Beyond rhetoric, Miliband's stance on energy policy presents another potential point of friction. As energy secretary, he was a proponent of the UK's net-zero agenda and opposed new licenses for North Sea oil and gas exploration. This position contrasts with Trump and his administration's calls for increased domestic fossil fuel production.
Nile Gardiner, director of the Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom at the Heritage Foundation and a former foreign-policy aide to Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, described Miliband's appointment as "disastrous" and a sign of "a real lack of strategic thinking" by Prime Minister Burnham. Gardiner asserted that Miliband is "no friend of the United States" and is seen by U.S. conservatives as the architect of the net-zero agenda, which he called "completely poisonous" to the U.S. administration.
Miliband, in his first remarks after the appointment, highlighted his family's history as Jewish refugees fleeing the Nazis and pledged to uphold democratic values. He also stated his commitment to nurturing the U.S.-U.K. alliance and deepening ties with the European Union.
The appointment has also raised concerns among some British Jewish and pro-Israel commentators, citing Miliband's past leadership record within the Labour Party. Separately, Conservative Member of Parliament Priti Patel criticized Burnham and Miliband over plans to proceed with an agreement concerning the Chagos Islands, which she argued would transfer British territory and cost taxpayers approximately $47 billion.
President Trump stated he had a "very good" conversation with Prime Minister Burnham shortly after the latter took office and that they plan to meet in the near future. The White House, State Department, and offices for Miliband and Burnham did not immediately respond to requests for comment.