Donald Trump warned Keir Starmer to not appoint Peter Mandelson | Politics | News | EUROtoday

Members of Donald Trump’s transition workforce reportedly suggested towards Peter Mandelson being appointed Britain’s ambassador to the US. Senior figures within the then incoming US president queried Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer‘s choice to exchange Karen Pierce as ambassador with the Labour peer.

A former Trump official and a UK official are reported to have additionally claimed Mr Trump’s aides advised Jonathan Powell, the PM’s National Security Adviser, after which Chief of Staff Morgan McSweeney, they wished Ms Pierce to remain in publish at a gathering in December 2024. The Trump official advised Politico that members of Mr Trump’s transition workforce known as Mr Powell to say they had been sad on the method Ms Pierce had been handled and did not like the selection of Mandelson.

Both officers advised the identical publication that Mr Trump’s aides had been perplexed on the thought of Mandelson as ambassador due to his previous criticism of the president.

Mandelson beforehand described Mr Trump as “a bully”. In January 2025, forward of taking over the publish of ambassador, he advised the BBC his previous criticism was “ill-judged and wrong”.

The report of claims of disquiet amongst Mr Trump’s workforce come as Sir Keir continues to face fierce criticism over his choice to nominate Mandelson as ambassador regardless of the peer’s hyperlinks to the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

The former Labour minister has been accused of passing on data to Epstein when he was enterprise secretary.

Mandelson was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public workplace on February 23. He was launched on bail pending additional investigation.

He denies any wrongdoing.

The former Labour grandee’s regulation agency, Mishcon de Reya, mentioned Mandelson’s “overriding priority” was to proceed to cooperate with the police investigation and to clear his title.

Meanwhile, fallout from Mandelson’s appointment continues to plague the Prime Minister.

Conservative Party chief, Kemi Badenoch, accused Sir Keir at PMQs on Wednesday of failing to do his obligation in appointing Mandelson ambassador.

Sir Keir, in the meantime, repeatedly dodged calls for to say whether or not he had personally spoken to Mandelson about particulars regarding his relationship with Epstein.

The Tory chief repeatedly pressed him on whether or not he had requested Lord Mandelson about his keep at Epstein’s home following the financier’s conviction.

Mrs Badenoch additionally accused Sir Keir of making an attempt to keep away from scrutiny by releasing paperwork about Mandelson’s appointment instantly after Prime Minister’s Questions final week.

She mentioned: “This Prime Minister appointed Peter Mandelson but didn’t bother to ask the questions.

“If he can’t be straight with the House on one thing so simple as this, why ought to we imagine a phrase he says about something?”

Sir Keir said previously that due process was followed in Mandelson’s appointment, but the process wasn’t strong enough. He said: “Ultimately, it was my mistake and I’ve apologised for that and fairly proper too.”