Foreign Secretary David Miliband says the UK and US are “closest allies” following meetings in Washington, where he speaks positively about his engagement with US officials. Multiple outlets report that Miliband met US Senator Marco Rubio at the State Department and later described the meeting as “warm” and “productive,” thanking Rubio for his time. While the reporting agrees on the substance of Miliband’s remarks about the relationship, they note that he does not directly engage with questions about criticism of Donald Trump. The Independent and other UK outlets describe Miliband as “ducking” or avoiding further questions on Trump, reflecting that his public comments in Washington focus on the broader partnership rather than responding to specific controversy. Evening Standard adds that Rubio’s response appears less effusive than Miliband’s characterisation of the interaction. Overall, the accounts converge on Miliband’s message of close UK-US ties and his decision not to address direct lines of questioning about Trump during his time in Washington.