UK Ambassador Retracts ‘Danger’ Comments on Trump: Calls Remarks ‘Ill-Judged and Wrong’ “`

January 30, 2025 by No Comments

EXCLUSIVE – The incoming U.K. ambassador to the U.S., is preparing to assume his role in strengthening the longstanding “special relationship” between London and Washington. However, he first addressed previous comments he made about the recently re-elected president, including a 2019 statement calling President Trump “a danger to the world.”

In an exclusive interview, he retracted his earlier assessment, stating, “I consider my remarks about President Trump as ill-judged and wrong. I think that times and attitudes toward the president have changed.” He added that Trump has gained “fresh respect,” including from himself, and that this will guide his work as ambassador.

These comments follow reports suggesting potential challenges to the U.K.-U.S. relationship and the possibility of the White House blocking Mandelson’s appointment. Mandelson dismissed these claims, stating he’s received no indication of any difficulties with his appointment.

However, uncertainty persists regarding the transatlantic relationship, fueled by comments from Trump’s campaign officials and close ally, .

Musk, who recently clashed with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on social media, is not in Trump’s Cabinet but heads the new Department of Government Efficiency. Despite this social media friction, Trump and Starmer reportedly had a friendly phone call recently, suggesting a possible prioritization of the U.S.-U.K. partnership.

“They’re not Siamese twins, President Trump and Prime Minister Starmer, but they’re both pragmatic people. They know where each is coming from, they want to find common ground,” Mandelson noted. “I feel very optimistic. I feel very upbeat about the relationship that they’re both going to have.”

Mandelson is the first non-career diplomat to hold this position in over fifty years. This might benefit him when working with Trump, who also lacks a traditional diplomatic background.

“The president isn’t a career diplomat, and I’m not a career diplomat,” Mandelson explained. “I came into politics to change things for the better for people, and so did he. We share a similar, if not identical, outlook on the world and motivation in politics. But I think above all, we believe in something which is ,” he added, referring to the enduring U.S.-U.K. relationship.

Mandelson prioritized collaboration with the U.S. on trade, and defense partnerships, especially concerning adversarial powers like China.

“I think that the United States and Britain, working together, can outsmart and keep ahead of the curve as far as China is concerned,” the incoming ambassador stated. “[Trump] wants a dialogue with China, he wants to do deals with China. But he’s also not going to be naive about China. 

“We face a challenge together from China, and we’ve got to make sure that we are able to deter that challenge or that threat when they’re having aggressive intents toward us,” he added. 

Mandelson also highlighted the trilateral alliance between the U.S., the U.K., and Australia, created to counter . 

“Security in the Euro-Atlantic area depends on making sure that China is kept at bay in its own region,” he said. “China has the right to prosper, to generate higher standards of living for its own people, but not at the expense of others.”

Mandelson maintained that despite global concerns about security under the Trump administration, the U.K. doesn’t share these anxieties.

“There are so many threats and challenges the world is facing at the moment. It takes courage, somebody, sometimes, who’s prepared to be argumentative and, indeed, disruptive, not just take business as usual,” he explained.

“Frankly, I think President Trump could become one of the most consequential American presidents I have known in my adult life,” Mandelson concluded.