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Gavin Newsom has praised Ed Miliband as a “true statesman” after the White House raised concerns over his appointment as Foreign Secretary.
The governor of California spoke in support of Andy Burnham’s decision to hand Mr Miliband the role, after warnings from Washington over his green energy policies and role in blocking the US from using bases for attacks on Iran.
Mr Newsom, who is a frontrunner for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination, told The Times that the appointment was “a smart choice”, citing the former energy secretary’s climate policies.
“Ed is a true statesman,” Mr Newsom said.
“He understands that the biggest challenges we face – including the climate crisis and affordability – require serious people willing to work across borders and stand up for democratic values.”
But those values have clashed with the Trump administration a number of times.
Mr Miliband, who in 2016 called the US president a “racist, misogynistic self-confessed groper”, succeeded Yvette Cooper in the role of Foreign Secretary on Monday. He was described as a “point of friction”, Washington officials told The Telegraph earlier this week.
David Blair
There's no worse choice for foreign secretary than Ed Miliband
Senior officials had been most concerned about Mr Miliband potentially becoming Mr Burnham’s chancellor, citing his opposition to new oil and gas drilling licences in the North Sea.
US sources told The Times that Mr Miliband’s stance was “ideologically driven” and that it was holding back revenue streams that could fund defence spending.
Donald Trump personally clashed with Mr Miliband when the then energy secretary signed a memorandum of understanding with Mr Newsom pledging to cooperate on green energy technologies including offshore wind.
The US president said it was “inappropriate for them to be dealing with him”, calling Mr Newsom a “loser”.
Mr Miliband also spearheaded efforts to block the US from using British bases to launch attacks on Iran.
Sir Keir Starmer was initially keen to allow US forces to use the bases, but Mr Miliband led the opposition on the National Security Council.
The decision prompted criticism from Mr Trump, who publicly criticised Sir Keir and described him as “not Winston Churchill”.
Mr Miliband’s vow to protect and defend international law could also lead to tension in the Trump administration, with Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, leading a campaign to dismantle the International Criminal Court after labelling it a globalist bureaucracy that undermines US sovereignty.
Meanwhile, officials in Israel have warned diplomatic relations with the UK could further worsen after Mr Miliband’s appointment.
Sources told The Telegraph relations were already “frozen” after two years of Labour government and could deteriorate partly because of Mr Miliband – a prominent pro-Palestine voice.
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In his first statement as Foreign Secretary, Mr Miliband lauded Britain’s “essential alliance” with the US and vowed to fight for UK interests.
“I will be a foreign secretary who fights for Britain’s interests and our values of democracy, freedom and the rule of law on the world stage,” he said.
“I will seek to deepen and strengthen our strategic alliance with the European Union, which is so important for our prosperity and security and at the same time nurture our strong, enduring and essential alliance with the United States.”
He also promised to “work with others on tackling the climate crisis” and “strengthening our partnerships for international development”.
