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New UK foreign minister dodges questions on his past Trump remarks

The UK’s new foreign secretary, Ed Miliband, was confronted with his past criticism of “racist” Donald Trump as he held talks in Washington with his…

By Samantha Johnson / August 6, 2026

The UK’s new foreign secretary, Ed Miliband, was confronted with his past criticism of “racist” Donald Trump as he held talks in Washington with his US counterpart Marco Rubio.

Miliband ignored questions about whether he still thought the president was an “idiot, a racist and a misogynist” as he met with the US top diplomat.

Miliband was invited to the US capital by Rubio after their recent first meeting on the sidelines of a foreign ministers’ summit in the Philippines last month.

The pair were due to discuss efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the Ukraine war and the situation in Gaza.

Smiling as he shook hands with Rubio at the US State Department, Miliband ducked shouted inquiries by reporters about his previous strident views on Trump, and said: “We are looking forward to our meeting”.

The dynamic between the two men will be closely watched as the White House was also reported to be concerned about Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s decision to hand Miliband the Foreign Office brief.

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