Ed Miliband ignored questions about his past criticism of “racist” Donald Trump as he held talks in Washington with US counterpart Marco Rubio on Thursday (6 August). In 2016, the now-foreign secretary called the US president “a racist, misogynistic, self-confessed groper." Mr Miliband smiled as he shook hands with America’s top diplomat, saying they were looking forward to their meeting. Mr Rubio invited Mr Miliband to the US capital after their recent first meeting on the sidelines of a foreign ministers’ summit in the Philippines last month. Following talks, Mr Miliband thanked Mr Rubio for a "warm, productive" meeting and described the UK and US as the "closest of allies."