Ed Miliband held talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, describing the UK and US as "the closest of allies," but avoided answering reporters' questions about his past description of Donald Trump as "an idiot, a racist and a misogynist." The meeting was closely watched given reported White House unease over Miliband's appointment as Foreign Secretary, given his record as a strong net-zero advocate clashing with Trump's pro-fossil-fuel stance, and came against a backdrop in which the US ambassador to the UK had recently said Miliband was "wrong" to have called Trump racist and misogynistic in 2016.

The two discussed reopening the Strait of Hormuz, whose disruption has driven up fuel and food prices, alongside the war in Ukraine and the situation in Gaza. Miliband's statement was warm, thanking Rubio for a "productive meeting" and stressing shared Nato commitments, but Rubio's own account was notably cooler, omitting any mention of the "special relationship" and simply listing topics discussed, including the need for Europe to take greater responsibility for its own security. Separately, Miliband is also meeting World Bank president Ajay Banga during his visit, having recently been given the UK's seat on the bank's board.