Awkward! 'Red Ed' the Trump-basher is off on charm offensive to U.S.

By JASON GROVES, POLITICAL EDITOR Published: 22:55, 4 August 2026 | Updated: 22:55, 4 August 2026 Ed Miliband will attempt a charm offensive with the Trump administration on Wednesday, despite previously branding the President 'a racist, misogynistic, self-confessed groper'. As he prepared for talks in Washington DC, the new Foreign Secretary said he was 'committed to nurturing our strong, enduring and essential alliance with the US'. Mr Miliband was pictured dressed casually in jeans and trainers, and carrying a suitcase as he prepared for a flight to the US capital where his brand of eco-socialism is wildly out of step with the Trump administration. He said he was 'greatly looking forward' to talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. But aides remain nervous about the potential for a diplomatic upset. Mr Miliband's opposition to oil exploration in the North Sea - and his obsessions with what Mr Trump describes as 'windmills' have repeatedly attracted the President's ire. Mr Miliband also spent years firing crude insults at Mr Trump during his first term in office, saying he had 'lowered the bar for idiocy'.  In 2016, he said US voters electing Mr Trump demonstrated 'dark days for America and the world'.  Two years later, he joined a 'Stop Trump' demonstration in London against the US President's state visit to the UK.  Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband will attempt a charm offensive with the Trump administration during his first trip to the USA  President Donald Trump and Mr Miliband are due to meet on Wednesday. Mr Miliband spent years firing crude insults at Mr Trump during his first term in office, saying he had 'lowered the bar for idiocy' 2016, Radio 4: 'The idea that we share values with a racist, misogynistic, self-confessed groper beggars belief... I am deeply worried.' 2016, essay: 'We must do our best at home and abroad to resist the worst of Trumpism...These are dark days for America and the world.' 2017, X: 'I know Trump has lowered the bar for idiocy, but...' 2018, GQ magazine: 'What is objectionable about him? His racism. His misogyny. His peculiar relationship with Russia and most of all with the truth.' 2018: Joined a Stop Trump protest against the President's state visit and said he would boycott the state dinner. At the time he said: 'What is objectionable about him? His racism. His misogyny. His peculiar relationship with Russia and most of all with the truth.' Mr Miliband has claimed his past attacks on President Trump are 'irrelevant'. In 2024, he said: 'I genuinely don't think that Donald Trump is reading my tweets.' US Ambassador Warren Stephens said last month that Mr Miliband had been 'wrong' about President Trump, but played down the issue, saying the comments were 'some time ago'. Mr Miliband's trip comes as Andy Burnham is on holiday abroad.  First Secretary of State Louise Haigh, who was pictured in Downing Street dressed in a suit and trainers, is the most senior minister left in the country to deal with day-to-day events. Mr Miliband is expected to use talks in Washington to push the US to de-escalate the Iran crisis and ease the pressure in the Strait of Hormuz.  Ministers are nervous that Mr Trump could sign a deal that imposes multi-million-dollar 'tolls' on ships using the vital trade route.  Mr Miliband was pictured dressed casually in jeans and trainers, and carrying a suitcase as he prepared for a flight to the US capital First Secretary of State Louise Haigh, who was pictured in Downing Street dressed in a suit and trainers, is the most senior minister left in the country to deal with day-to-day events On Tuesday, he said securing a lasting ceasefire 'is essential to ease cost of living pressures on British families'.  Mr Miliband is reported to have been instrumental in the decision to bar US jets from using British bases, including Diego Garcia, to launch their initial strikes on Iran - a move that infuriated Mr Trump and led to a rift with Keir Starmer. The Foreign Secretary is also expected to urge Mr Rubio to maintain support for Ukraine in its war with Russia. Meanwhile Justice Secretary Alex Norris defended Mr Burnham's decision to go on holiday, telling Sky News: 'The Prime Minister is having a few days away with his family. He will be in constant contact with his office.'