SerpApi.Org
Relations between the U.S. and U.K. are reportedly on thin ice after the White House warned Prime Minister Andy Burnham about appointing Ed Miliband as his foreign secretary.
Miliband, who is expected to fill the position after Burnham made several sweeping changes, has promised to deepen ties with the European Union before commenting on the "essential alliance with the United States." According to The Telegraph, Trump's team told Burnham that they would find it difficult to work with Miliband.
According to a senior White House official, Miliband would be seen as a "point of friction" in the alliance between Great Britain and the U.S. because of his support for green energy projects that have drawn the ire of the American president.
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The Telegraph reported that the warning from the U.S. came from unofficial talks between the Trump administration and Burnham's team shortly after it became clear that he would replace Keir Starmer. Miliband's stance on topics has often run counter to that of the White House.
Earlier this year, Miliband was instrumental in leading the opposition on the National Security Council that denied the U.S. military use of U.K. bases as a place to store the bombers. The decision was the catalyst that broke the impasse between Trump and Starmer, who later said that the former prime minister was "not Winston Churchill."
Miliband also opposed drilling in the North Sea, something Trump has been dead set on and has since criticized. During his time as energy secretray, Miliband blocked several licenses that would have allowed the drilling for oil and gas.
In 2023, he slammed Conservative leader Rishi Sunak for rolling back several climate targets. "A Trump-style climate culture war is not what the British people want," wrote Miliband.
Miliband had previously slammed the president in 2016, writing, "We must do our best at home and abroad to resist the worst of Trumpism." He added, These are dark days for America and the world. There can be little solace right now."
He later told BBC World at One, "The idea that we have shared values with a racist, misogynistic self-confessed groper beggars belief." Trump ally Steve Bannon told The Telegraph said that the Trump administration "took an extraordinary step" in its reaching out to Burnham.
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"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,'" Bannon said. "Burnham could not care less - he appointed this twit anyway."
Sources within the British government have already expressed fears that Miliband could become a liability due to his previous comments about the president. In his first statement, Miliband pledged to fight for "Britain's interests and our values of democracy, freedom and the rule of law on the world stage."
"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 added.
