President Donald Trump boards Air Force One at Morristown Airport, Monday, Sept. 7, 2026, in Morristown, N.J. Donald Trump has remained remarkably silent over the UK’s decision to impose sanctions on Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Ed Miliband announced on Tuesday that Britain, along with 11 other western nations, would impose a ban on goods and services from the illegally occupied territory. The foreign secretary claimed the Israeli government has been “turning a blind eye” to the Israeli settlers’ “ethnic cleansing” of Palestinians. The announcement is part of a wider plan to “reset” the UK’s relationship with Israel It comes after the Israeli government unveiled a plan to develop 1,200 more homes in the West Bank, which critics say would erase the possibility of a two-state solution. Tensions have also been rising between Israeli settlers and Palestinians in recent months, with frequent violent skirmishes. The Israeli government has furiously hit back by closing the UK consulate in Jerusalem, accusing Miliband of “outrageous lies” and banning 12 back bench MPs from entering their country. The US president is an ardent supporter of Israel and typically posts his unfiltered opinions on his social media website, TruthSocial, as soon as news breaks. He has also not been slow to criticise the actions of the UK government, most notably over Keir Starmer’s refusal to allow US jets to launch offensive attacks on Iran from RAF bases. But Trump has still not spoken up about Miliband’s pivotal statement in the Commons on Tuesday afternoon. The president was informed by prime minister Andy Burnham about the UK’s plans over the phone on Monday, so has had plenty of time to respond. According to Axios, Trump did not push back on the proposals or ask the PM to change his mind. Of course, Trump could still speak up during his next public appearance at the Republican Party’s Midterm Convention in Dallas tonight. But the US secretary of state Marco Rubio suggested that the White House would not be weighing in on Tuesday. He told reporters: “I would say the president has not commented on this, neither have I at this point. We were made aware of that they [the UK] were going to make this decision. “We heard their arguments as to why. We share the goal of stability. We don’t want to see some uptick of violence or an uptick of conflict or tensions in the West Bank, it’s a tenuous time... in the regions, it’s always tenuous times... “As of this moment we don’t have any further comment on the UK decision.” This statement by Rubio is a significant moment. He doesn't condemn the UK decision to impose sanctions on Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and implicitly agrees with the British concerns about the Netanyahu government policy pic.twitter.com/r13Rv2Yskx — Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) September 8, 2026 However, another high-profile Trump ally did slam Britain over the move. Mike Huckabee, the US ambassador to Israel, accused the government of “Jew hate” after the Foreign Office published a video of Miliband condemning the “horrific” situation in Gaza. That led to a condemnation of his remarks by Burnham’s official spokesman. But Huckabee reignited the war of words on Radio 4’s Today programme on Tuesday. He said Britain had not thought through the “implications” of the sanctions plan, which could see some US states ban all trade with the UK. Huckabee said he was aware that Miliband is Jewish, but said: “This is an irrational action, that’s what I’m saying. “I don’t understand what it’s supposed to achieve. If the UK is really interested in dealing with issues they feel are wrong, where are the sanctions against North Korea, China, Russia. Where are the sanctions against many other nations in the world?” He added: “I feel it is a discrimination against the Israeli government, it’s a discrimination against the Jewish people, and I don’t understand the rationale of it. “I don’t know if they have thought [this] through. It’s like throwing a stone and not knowing where it’s going to land.” Jewish leaders have also condemned Miliband over the sanctions. Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mervis said it was “truly a dark day for British Jews” while the Jewish Leadership Council said the sanctions risk “becoming a de facto boycott of Israel, giving legitimacy to those who reject Israel’s very existence”. Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster. Related... Jewish Leaders Condemn Ed Miliband Over Israeli West Bank Sanctions The UK Has Announced Sanctions Against Israeli Settlements In The West Bank. Here's Why That Matters Miliband Accuses Israeli Settlers Of 'Ethnic Cleansing' In West Bank As He Unveils Fresh Sanctions