President Donald Trump’s allies are warning that British Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s appointment of Ed Miliband as foreign secretary could strain the U.S.-U.K.relationship, citing Miliband’s history of attacking Trump and his support for net-zero energy policies.Burnham appointed Miliband on Monday, replacing Yvette Cooper and completing a remarkable political comeback for the former Labour Party leader.
Miliband led Labour from 2010 until the party’s defeat in the 2015 general election and most recently served as energy security and net zero secretary under former Prime Minister Keir Starmer.The appointment makes Miliband Britain’s top diplomat and a principal counterpart to Secretary of State Marco Rubio at a time when Burnham is seeking to preserve close ties with Washington.Burnham spoke with Trump shortly after becoming prime minister and reaffirmed the importance of the bilateral relationship, according to Reuters.ANDY BURNHAM TAKES OVER AS UK PRIME MINISTER, CALLS FOR 'NEW POLITICAL MODEL'A journalist asks a question to Britain's newly appointed Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband on Downing Street after Britain's newly appointed Prime Minister Andy Burnham took office, in London, Britain, July 20, 2026.
REUTERS/Jack Taylor TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY The Daily Telegraph reported that Trump administration officials had warned Burnham’s team against giving Miliband a senior role.Steve Bannon, Trump’s former White House chief strategist and a political ally of the president, told the newspaper that the administration viewed Miliband’s appointment as "very injurious" to the special relationship.
Bannon does not currently hold an administration position, and the White House has not publicly confirmed that such a warning was delivered.The London Times separately reported before the appointment that the administration had signaled opposition to Miliband and was even more concerned about the prospect of him becoming foreign secretary.That reporting was not...