Overview

• Peter Mandelson, a senior Labour figure, has been confirmed as the UK's ambassador to the United States, replacing career diplomat Karen Pearce.
• Mandelson retracted past comments from 2019 in which he called Trump a 'danger to the world,' describing those remarks as a product of a 'fraught' political climate in Britain at the time.
• He praised Trump's 'dynamism' and 'extraordinary second mandate,' signaling a shift in tone as he seeks to strengthen UK-US relations under Trump's administration.
• Downing Street dismissed reports of an FBI dossier alleging Mandelson's ties to China, asserting that all necessary declarations were made before his appointment.
• The appointment is seen as a strategic move by Prime Minister Keir Starmer to secure a US-UK trade deal and avert potential tariffs threatened by Trump during his campaign.