𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Members of Donald Trump’s transition team reportedly advised against Peter Mandelson being appointed Britain’s ambassador to the US. Senior figures in the then incoming US president queried Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer‘s decision to replace Karen Pierce as ambassador with the Labour peer.

A former Trump official and a UK official are reported to have also claimed Mr Trump’s aides told Jonathan Powell, the PM’s National Security Adviser, and then Chief of Staff Morgan McSweeney, they wanted Ms Pierce to stay in post at a meeting in December 2024. The Trump official told Politico that members of Mr Trump’s transition team called Mr Powell to say they were unhappy at the way Ms Pierce had been treated and didn’t like the choice of Mandelson.

Both officials told the same publication that Mr Trump’s aides were perplexed at the idea of Mandelson as ambassador because of his past criticism of the president.

Mandelson previously described Mr Trump as “a bully”. In January 2025, ahead of taking up the post of ambassador, he told the BBC his past criticism was “ill-judged and wrong”.

The report of claims of disquiet among Mr Trump’s team come as Sir Keir continues to face fierce criticism over his decision to appoint Mandelson as ambassador despite the peer’s links to the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

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

Mandelson was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office on February 23. He was released on bail pending further investigation.

He denies any wrongdoing.

The former Labour grandee’s law firm, Mishcon de Reya, said Mandelson’s “overriding priority” was to continue to cooperate with the police investigation and to clear his name.

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

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

Sir Keir, meanwhile, repeatedly dodged demands to say whether he had personally spoken to Mandelson about details relating to his relationship with Epstein.

The Tory leader repeatedly pressed him on whether he had asked Lord Mandelson about his stay at Epstein’s house following the financier’s conviction.

Mrs Badenoch also accused Sir Keir of trying to avoid scrutiny by releasing documents about Mandelson’s appointment immediately after Prime Minister’s Questions last week.

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

“If he cannot be straight with the House on something as simple as this, why should we believe a word he says about anything?”

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 have apologised for that and quite right too.”