US President Donald Trump has weighed into the storm surrounding Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s appointment of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s friend and ex-Labour grandee Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US.
The news comes as Starmer is battling for his political life, with critics in all parties—including his own—calling for him to resign over accusations that he has broken the ministerial code by appointing Mandelson. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch in particular was scathing in her condemnation of the handling of Mandelson’s failed vetting by the security services contrasting with Starmer’s assurance to the House the process had been followed.
Trump’s tone seemed to pile further pressure on Starmer at a time of utmost vulnerability, before concluding with a surprisingly conciliatory tone.
The president said via his Truth Social platform: “Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the United Kingdom acknowledged that he ‘exercised wrong judgement’ when he chose his Ambassador to Washington. I agree, he was a really bad pick. Plenty of time to recover, however! President DJT”
What did Starmer say in his defence over Mandelson?
Prime Minister Keir Starmer told MPs on Monday it “beggars belief” the Foreign Office withheld explosive information about Peter Mandelson’s failed security vetting—and once again apologised for ever appointing Lord Mandelson.
Mandelson formally took up the role as US ambassador in February 2025, and was sacked seven months later due to his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
Starmer has argued “I did not mislead the House” but instead should have been given more information about Mandelson’s vetting.
On Monday, Starmer looked “close to tears” while telling the House of Commons of the appointment and gave clear signs of “losing composure” while being questioned by MPs over Peter Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador, according to a body language expert.
The Prime Minister blamed former top civil servant Sir Olly Robbins for deliberately keeping him in the dark over Mandelson’s failure to pass security vetting checks before taking the role.
The Prime Minister fired Sir Olly from his role as the Foreign Office’s top official after learning last week that Mandelson had been granted security clearance despite failing the checks.
MPs will have the opportunity to further scrutinise the government’s accountability in relation to the appointment during an emergency debate on Tuesday.
Starmer hangs on for now
The Prime Minister fired Sir Olly from his role as the Foreign Office’s top official after learning last week that Mandelson had been granted security clearance despite failing the checks.
MPs will have the opportunity to further scrutinise the government’s accountability in relation to the appointment during an emergency debate on Tuesday.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who applied for the debate, said it was “a matter of national security because the Prime Minister has admitted appointing a known serious security risk to our most sensitive diplomatic post.”
Sir Keir denied misleading the Commons in the face of accusations that he lied to Parliament by failing to set out the full picture around how Mandelson was granted developed vetting (DV) status.
He said it was “unforgivable” that the full information about the appointment had not been disclosed, adding that this “wasn’t an oversight” but “a deliberate decision was taken to withhold that material from me” on repeated occasions by the Foreign Office.