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Donald Trump APPROVES Peter Mandelson’s appointment as new UK ambassador to the US.
Donald Trump has approved Lord Peter Mandelson’s appointment as new UK ambassador to Washington.
A question mark remained over the Lord’s nomination due to his alleged connections with the EU and China.
The peer had also previously branded the US President as a ‘danger to the world’ following a war of words in 2019 during Trump’s campaign for the White House.
But despite the President previously being urged to remove the grandee as a candidate due to his ties, Mandelson has now received his agrément – the formal agreement to receive a new diplomat – from the US.
Despite it being perceived as a formality, Trump will still need to hand the peer a ‘letter of credence’ upon his arrival to Washington to formalise his acceptance.
The decision, first reported in Politico Playbook, will likely be a relief for Downing Street, as the peer’s nomination had been doubt despite many in No10 being confident he would be granted White House approval.
They nominated Lord Mandelson, a key figure in both Sir Tony Blair and Gordon Brown’s governments, last month, with the Prime Minister hailing the peer’s ‘unrivalled experience’.
No 10 had been under pressure to drop Lord Mandelson as the chosen candidate – but a 45-minute phone call between Sir Keir Starmer and Mr Trump on Sunday appears to have calmed any tensions between Westminster and Washington.
For an ambassadorial nominee to formally take up their post in Washington, the president has to accept the ‘letters of credence’
Earlier this month, the Mail revealed that Lord Mandelson was not invited to Trump’s Presidential Inauguration (file image)
Despite the appointment not being discussed, Lord Mandelson is now expected to start his role early next month.
The peer has also attempted to mend relations after his past comments suggesting Mr Trump was ‘little short of a white nationalist’.
In an article for Fox News, he praised the US President-elect’s ‘straight talking and deal-making instincts’ and his ‘great skill as a political campaigner’.
Despite his efforts, Lord Mandelson’s alleged links with China threatened to throw the appointment off course.
Yesterday it emerged that a dossier detailing his connections with Beijing was handed to the FBI by American Senators, raising fresh questions over his future post as Britain’s next ambassador to the US.
Lord Mandelson has been at the centre of a row over his suitability for the top diplomatic role, with sources close to US President Donald Trump having previously raised concerns over the ex-Cabinet minister’s perceived links to Beijing.
Politicians had reportedly passed a dossier of information taken from the Chinese internet purporting to show he met senior figures at Communist state-owned firms.
Australian outlet The Nightly said that the file put together by the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China had been forwarded on to the US law enforcement.
The dossier is said to claim Lord Mandelson was listed as an adviser to China International Capital Corporation (CICC), a global investment bank, in 2013.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had previously been urged to remove Peter Mandelson as candidate due to his ties with the EU and China
Politicians reportedly passed a dossier of information taken from the Chinese internet purporting to show he met senior figures at Communist state-owned firms
The dossier is said to claim Lord Mandelson was listed as an adviser to China International Capital Corporation (CICC), a global investment bank, in 2013
Earlier this month a member of the Trump team told The Independent it was ‘still not certain’ that Lord Mandelson’s credentials would be accepted
This is not declared on his House of Lords register of interests.
It also suggests he made several trips to China himself, often as part of a delegation from his firm, Global Counsel.
Lord Mandelson told the website: ‘I have had no business dealings in China.’ He has been approached for further comment by MailOnline.
Will Trump veto Mandelson’s return as our next US ambassador?
No 10 said last night: ‘On that specific report, the Foreign Office don’t recognise the reports of a dossier.
‘More broadly, there is an established regime in place for the management of interests held by ambassadors or high commissioners.
‘This ensures that steps are taken to avoid or mitigate any actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interest, and all candidates are subject to background checks and security clearance. Lord Mandelson has made all the relevant declarations as part of this process.’
Earlier this month, a member of the Trump team told The Independent it was ‘still not certain’ that Lord Mandelson’s credentials would be accepted, blaming strains with Sir Keir Starmer’s Government and concerns about Lord Mandelson’s perceived links to China.
The Trump source said that while Labour had told the Trump transition team it was ‘a huge compliment’ that Sir Keir wanted to send such a senior Labour figure, they were ‘not buying that’.
Donald Trump did not want David Miliband (pictured) as the next US ambassador, a Republican source claimed
His approved nomination comes shortly after it was revealed Trump did not want David Miliband to serve as the UK ambassador in Washington, according to a Republican source.
It was reported that Mr Miliband had been vying for the role providing Lord Mandelson failed to gain the role.
However, an ally of President Trump previously told The Sun: ‘Trump doesn’t like Peter Mandelson, but he has no time for David Miliband either.’
Donald Trump ‘doesn’t want David Miliband as US ambassador’ in latest blow for Keir Starmer
The source added: ‘Miliband would never get to be ambassador. No one called Miliband will stand a chance.’
Mr Miliband is the brother of Ed Miliband, the Environment Secretary and leader of the Labour Party and Opposition from 2010 to 2015.
But amid a string of briefings from Mr Trump allies condemning his appointment, former Foreign Secretary Mr Miliband has been trying to take the role.
A source previously said Dame Karen Pierce wanted to cover the return of Mr Trump, and hoped that he would block the appointment.
But a British Embassy spokesman said the claims about Dame Karen were ‘categorically untrue’.
Earlier this month, the Mail revealed that Lord Mandelson was not invited to Trump’s Presidential Inauguration.