Donald Trump reacts to Ed Miliband’s appointment as Foreign Secretary
Donald Trump is reportedly furious at Ed Miliband being appointed as the UK’s Foreign Secretary under Andy Burnham’s new-look cabinet, reports BritPanorama.
Miliband, the former Leader of the Opposition, is perceived as a potential “point of friction” between the US and UK due to his previous criticisms of Trump and the American administration. In 2016, he cautioned Britain to “resist the worst of Trumpism” after Trump’s victory in the US election. Subsequently, he referred to Trump as having “lowered the bar for idiocy,” escalating tensions between the two figures.
The White House has expressed “deep concern” regarding Miliband’s new role, as reported by the Telegraph. They were attentive during recent informal discussions between the Trump administration and Burnham’s team following the announcement of Labour leader Keir Starmer’s resignation.
Steve Bannon, Trump’s former chief strategist, conveyed that the administration had warned the new Prime Minister that appointing Miliband, described as a “red diaper” baby and self-proclaimed socialist, would adversely impact the “special relationship” between the UK and the US. One major divergence between the two is their stance on green energy. Miliband has consistently resisted drilling in the North Sea, despite ongoing pressures during his term as Energy Secretary.
Speculation arises that Burnham might compel Miliband to reassess his opposition to new oil and gas fields opening in Scotland, especially after Trump recently criticized the UK as a “poverty-stricken disaster” while praising Burnham’s plans for North Sea oil drilling.
The new Prime Minister is anticipated to reverse previous Labour manifesto commitments and grant drilling licenses that could impact significant fields such as Rosebank and Jackdaw. Trump remarked on Truth Social that residents of Aberdeen were rejoicing over Burnham’s decision to open up North Sea oil resources, which he labelled as “one of the greatest sources of quality oil on Earth.”
Trump has not held back in his denunciation of Miliband, chastising him for agreeing to an “inappropriate” eco-deal with California Governor Gavin Newsom, who had signed a memorandum with the UK related to collaboration on offshore wind technology.
Despite the existing tensions, Miliband declared his intention to “nurture” the UK’s “strong, enduring and essential alliance with the United States” in his inaugural remarks as Foreign Secretary. Former Prime Minister Starmer had a tumultuous rapport with Trump during his short time in office, and Burnham now faces the challenge of appeasing Washington while striving to position the UK as a significant player in Europe amidst rising threats from actors like Russia and Iran.
Earlier this week, Trump and Burnham held their first conversation as leaders, primarily covering topics such as football, Manchester, and the Iran conflict. A Downing Street spokesperson confirmed that defense and security were at the forefront of their discussion. Trump characterized the dialogue as “interesting” and noted that it “went very well.”
Reports indicate that Burnham has sanctioned the use of British military bases for “defensive strikes” against Iran, with US operations potentially utilizing RAF bases in Fairford and Diego Garcia, according to Bloomberg.
This move marks a significant national security decision by the Labour leader, appearing to sidestep any considerable damage to the established “special relationship.” Miliband previously emerged as a prominent critic of UK cooperation with US forces concerning military bases, notably resisting a US request to utilize Diego Garcia, which contributed to Trump’s disparagement of Starmer.
The unfolding dynamics reflect the ongoing evolution of NATO alliances and the intricacies of international diplomacy as leaders navigate their national interests against the backdrop of global developments.
The situation underscores the complexity of transatlantic relations, with the new UK government needing to balance domestic policy shifts with external geopolitical responsibilities, particularly in light of the aggressive posturing from Russia and Iran. This development may shape the UK’s stance on energy and military cooperation with its allies in the coming months.
