The United Kingdom's new foreign secretary, Ed Miliband, faced questions about his past criticism of former US President Donald Trump during talks in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, August 6th, 2026. Miliband had previously described Trump as an “idiot, a racist and a misogynist,” but he ignored reporters' inquiries on whether he still held those views while meeting with US Senator Marco Rubio at the US State Department.

Miliband was invited to Washington by Rubio following their initial meeting at a foreign ministers’ summit in the Philippines the previous month. The discussions were expected to cover efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and the situation in Gaza.

Smiling as he shook hands with Rubio, Miliband avoided addressing his past remarks and instead said, “We are looking forward to our meeting.” The interaction between Miliband and Rubio is being closely observed, especially as reports indicate the White House has concerns about UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s decision to appoint Miliband to the Foreign Office.

Sources