Climate Politics

Miliband Stands by Newsom Climate Deal After Trump Backlash

UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, left, and California Governor Gavin Newsom during a signing ceremony for a clean energy agreement in London on Feb. 16. — UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, left, and California Governor Gavin Newsom during a signing ceremony for a clean energy agreement in London on Feb. 16.
Photographer: Yui Mok/PA Images/Getty Images

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By Jess Shankleman

February 18, 2026 at 7:13 PM UTC

Updated on

February 19, 2026 at 2:53 PM UTC

UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband shrugged off criticism from US President Donald Trump over his climate deal with California Governor Gavin Newsom.

The agreement announced earlier this week in London called for the British government and California to expand their cooperation to promote clean energy, fighting climate change and protecting the environment. But Trump said it was “inappropriate” for the UK to make an agreement directly with a US state.