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 on Thursday, August 6th, 2026. Miliband, who had previously described Trump as an “idiot, a racist and a misogynist,” ignored reporters' shouted inquiries on whether he still held those views while meeting with US top diplomat 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 set to cover key international issues including efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and the situation in Gaza.

As Miliband shook hands with Rubio, he smiled and said, “We are looking forward to our meeting,” without addressing the questions about his past remarks on Trump. The interaction between Miliband and Rubio is being closely observed, especially as reports indicate that the White House has concerns about UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s decision to appoint Miliband as foreign secretary.

Sources