US Ambassador Says Miliband Was Wrong to Call Trump ‘Racist’

By the Editorial Team · Friday, July 24, 2026

U.S. Ambassador Warren Stephens publicly disputed Ed Miliband’s 2016 claim that former President Trump was “racist” and “idiotic,” suggesting Miliband’s views may have changed over the past decade. Despite policy disagreements, Stephens expressed confidence that Miliband, now UK Foreign Secretary, will work to sustain a strong partnership between the UK and the U.S.

The United States ambassador to the United Kingdom, Warren Stephens, has publicly challenged former Labour leader Ed Miliband’s past characterization of former President Donald Trump as “racist” and “idiotic.” In an interview on July 23, Stephens addressed comments Miliband made in 2016, when he criticized Trump’s values as incompatible with those of the UK.

When presented with Miliband’s earlier remarks, Ambassador Stephens said the former Foreign Secretary was “wrong” and expressed hope that Miliband’s views have since evolved. “People’s view of President Trump in 2016 is probably a lot different than it is in 2026,” Stephens said. He suggested Miliband’s perspective on Trump may have shifted over the past decade.

Stephens also discussed his working relationship with Miliband during the latter’s tenure as Net Zero Secretary, noting their disagreements on energy policy. “It’s no secret Mr Miliband and I disagree on energy policies,” Stephens said. “But as Foreign Secretary I’m sure he’ll cherish the relationship with the US.”

Miliband was appointed Foreign Secretary by Labour leader Andy Burnham ahead of this year’s political reshuffle, despite questions about his ability to manage the UK’s relationship with the current US administration. He held his first meeting as Foreign Secretary with his American counterpart, Senator Marco Rubio, during a recent summit in the Philippines and agreed to make a trip to Washington in the near future.

Prior to his appointment to the Foreign Office, Miliband was considered for the role of Chancellor but was ultimately passed over in favor of former Defence Secretary John Healey.

Ambassador Stephens described his sole face-to-face encounter with Miliband as “as you’d expect – we disagree,” reflecting a professional yet strained dynamic. Despite the differences, Stephens emphasized his confidence that Miliband would prioritize maintaining a strong transatlantic partnership in his new role.

The exchange highlights the ongoing complexity in UK-US relations under new leadership figures, with both sides acknowledging areas of disagreement while signaling intent to cooperate on key diplomatic and policy issues.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.