Trump ‘gave permission’ for aide to name Lord Mandelson an ‘absolute moron’ | EUROtoday

Donald Trump “gave permission” to his former marketing campaign coordinator to publicly insult Keir Starmer’s alternative for the UK’s new ambassador to the US, based on sources near the president-elect.

The revelation got here with a warning that Sir Keir has “turned the special relationship toxic” as sources advised the prime minister had ignored calls for by the Trump transition group that Peter Mandelson not be appointed.

The anger is such that one supply stated Mr Trump could use his veto to dam the selection, although that is seen as unlikely. It is known that the Trump group stopped answering calls from UK representatives after the information broke.

The Independent revealed yesterday the Trump group’s rage on the resolution to nominate Lord Mandelson – nicknamed the Prince of Darkness – because the ambassador in Washington.

Soon after the announcement, Mr Trump’s current marketing campaign coordinator, Chris LaCivita, posted on X late on Friday that Lord Mandelson is a “moron”.

He wrote: “This UK government is special. Replace a professional universally respected ambassador with an absolute moron – he should stay home! SAD! Mandelson described Trump as a danger to the world and ‘little short of a white nationalist’.”

Now it has emerged that he was given permission to insult Lord Mandelson by the president-elect himself, based on insiders.

“Trump gave permission for Chris La Civita to put out that tweet,” a supply near the president-elect instructed The Independent.

Earlier, one other insider had described it as “a horrible, arrogant” alternative and stated it meant the UK could be “locked out” of key discussions with the Trump administration.

Since then, sources have instructed The Independent that the Labour authorities had approached the Trump transition group concerning the intention to nominate Lord Mandelson, a former spin physician, cupboard minister and EU commissioner.

A well-placed particular person stated: “The Trump transition team previously told them they did not want Mandelson, and they appointed him anyway!”

They added: “The UK-US relationship is no longer special. It is now toxic, and His Majesty’s Government can blame themselves.”

There had beforehand been anger at Labour’s sending 100 volunteers to assist Kamala Harris through the presidential election. The revelation emerged shortly after a dinner geared toward burying the hatchet with Mr Trump, Sir Keir and overseas secretary David Lammy in New York and was seen as “a betrayal”.

It added to considerations over the best way that Mr Lammy had beforehand attacked Mr Trump on Twitter describing him as a “tyrant” and “a woman-hating, neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath” – feedback which he has since defended.

Foreign minister Stephen Doughty, answerable for the US transient, additionally organised a 2017 petition to cease Mr Trump from addressing a joint sitting of parliament.

Lord Mandelson – the third particular person chosen to take care of the essential US relationship – has additionally been embroiled in a row over his previous feedback about Mr Trump.

The Labour peer attacked Mr Trump as “a bully” and “little short of a white nationalist and racist”.

There are query marks over whether or not Sir Keir may have an invitation to the inauguration subsequent month, whereas Reform UK chief Nigel Farage will likely be internet hosting one of many predominant events forward of the occasion in Washington. Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni and Hungarian PM Viktor Orban are already company of honour on the inauguration itself.

Announcing the ambassador resolution, Sir Keir stated: “The United States is one of our most important allies and as we move into a new chapter in our friendship, Peter will bring unrivalled experience to the role and take our partnership from strength to strength.”

Lord Mandelson stated: “It is a great honour to serve the country in this way. We face challenges in Britain but also big opportunities and it will be a privilege to work with the government to land those opportunities, both for our economy and our nation’s security, and to advance our historic alliance with the United States.”