UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband visited Washington this week for high-level talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The meeting, which follows an initial encounter between the two officials at a foreign ministers’ summit in the Philippines last month, was intended to strengthen diplomatic ties between the two nations.

During the visit, Miliband faced inquiries from the press regarding his past public statements about Donald Trump, in which he had previously labeled the president as an “idiot, a racist and a misogynist.” Miliband did not respond to these questions, choosing instead to focus on the official agenda of his meetings with Rubio. The visit marks a significant moment for the UK government as it navigates its relationship with the incoming US administration.

While the primary purpose of the trip was to discuss foreign policy and international cooperation, the focus of the media coverage shifted toward the potential friction caused by Miliband’s historical remarks. There is no indication that the diplomatic talks were derailed by these questions, but the incident highlights the challenges officials face when reconciling past political rhetoric with current diplomatic responsibilities.