Trump poised to reject Mandelson as ambassador to US unless serious restrictions placed on his activities
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Exclusive: Incoming president still minded to reject Lord Mandelson’s credentials as the UK’s ambassador to the US, with reports of splits in Downing Street over the appointment. Donald Trump is still threatening to reject Lord Mandelson’s appointment as the UK’s ambassador to the US unless the British government accept serious restrictions on his activities.
![[Trump may set conditions on Mandelson]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/20/14/2194886540.jpg)
Sir Keir Starmer is being placed under increasing pressure by the incoming Trump administration to bow to the undiplomatic demands or face a humiliating and unprecedented veto on his pick for envoy to Washington. A source in the Trump team has told The Independent the incoming president is still minded to reject the credentials of Mandelson when they are presented.
But they added: “There’s also a possibility that they approve it conditionally. There would be a very short leash.”. The Independent revealed over the weekend that Trump was considering the highly unusual move of rejecting Lord Mandelson’s credentials. No British ambassador in Washington or US ambassador in London has ever been refused in such a manner.
The biggest concern remains over Lord Mandelson’s support for close ties with China, fuelled by the UK Labour government being perceived as wooing Beijing following chancellor Rachel Reeves’ recent trip. One Mar-a-Lago source told The Independent: “It seems that the Starmer government is trying to play a game where it sets China up as a fall back for a relationship with the US. Nobody is buying that here. It’s completely ridiculous but compromises the British government.”.
