Overview

• At a joint press conference in London, President Donald Trump said he did not know Peter Mandelson when asked about the former UK ambassador’s ouster.
• The denial contrasts with Mandelson’s photographed Oval Office meeting with Trump in May during UK–US trade discussions, where Trump praised his accent.
• Prime Minister Keir Starmer removed Mandelson last week after Bloomberg published leaked emails in which Mandelson offered Epstein effusive support the day before his 2008 jail term began.
• Starmer said the material cited in the firing was not available at the time of Mandelson’s appointment, addressing questions about what his team knew and when.
• Both Trump and Mandelson have been accused of contributing to a 2003 Epstein birthday book, though the White House disputes the authenticity of the note attributed to Trump.