Mandelson acknowledges Trump's fresh respect ahead of ambassador confirmation

Peter Mandelson has stated that his previous comments regarding Donald Trump being "a danger to the world" were "ill-judged and wrong" as he anticipates his confirmation as the UK ambassador to the US.

In an interview with Fox News on Wednesday morning, Lord Mandelson remarked that Trump has garnered "fresh respect" due to his "dynamism and energy".

Mandelson’s change of stance comes as reports suggest he has received his diplomatic "agrément", which is an agreement in principle from the US to serve as ambassador to Washington, despite concerns from Trump's team related to his connections with China and the client list of his consultancy, Global Counsel.

Officials from the Foreign Office indicated that, barring any unforeseen obstacles, Mandelson is expected to be formally confirmed next month.

Formerly a Labour minister and now a member of the House of Lords, Mandelson had previously been critical of Trump, labelling him a "bully" and "reckless".

During his interview, Mandelson stated, "I consider my remarks about President Trump as ill-judged and wrong. I think that times and attitudes toward the president have changed since then." He added, "I think people have been impressed not just by the extraordinary second mandate that he has received from the American people, but the dynamism and energy with which he approached not just the campaign but government as well."

He expressed his belief that he has "won fresh respect" from Trump and that this sentiment will guide his work as the ambassador.

When questioned about potential reservations from Trump's team regarding his appointment, Mandelson replied, "I've heard nothing from the president or the White House or anyone working for him that suggests that there's going to be any difficulty about my appointment."

He commented, "I've been appointed as his majesty the king's ambassador in the United States. That means I'm both his and my country's representative in the US."

Mandelson, known for his strong connections in China, has held meetings with senior figures of the Chinese Communist Party as recently as 2023. Reports indicate that Global Counsel was involved with Shein, a Chinese fashion company, until early last year, and has lobbied for TikTok, which is prohibited on government devices in the US, UK, and EU.

Additionally, The Nightly, an Australian news outlet, reported that a dossier detailing Mandelson's connections to China, compiled by the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), was presented to the FBI by US senators.