First he quit as trade and industry secretary over an undeclared loan he took from a wealthy colleague to buy a London house. Mandelson was later invited back as Northern Ireland secretary only to quit after it became known he had intervened on behalf of a billionaire Indian-born businessman who was seeking British citizenship.
Unlike others before him, when his name was first mentioned in connection with the job of ambassador, it came with a string of associations — center-left Europhile, champion of globalism and friend of China — none of which seemed likely to endear him to Trump.
In addition, he was a “main character” of British politics: A recognizable name who attracts the buzz of gossip emanating from both firm supporters and sworn enemies — supposedly the sort of thing Starmer hates most about Westminster, with his lawyerly disdain for intrigue and personality politics.
Despite the factors counting against him, Mandelson appeared to make real gains and got himself on the right side of Trump. The ambassador made a concerted effort to reach his toughest audience, the MAGA diehards, by courting outriders individually and visiting the popular right-wing Capitol Hill hangout Butterworth’s.
As Peter Westmacott, former British ambassador in Washington, put it to POLITICO back in July: “With Donald Trump in the White House, the ambassador also has to be known to and appreciated by the president. So far, Lord Mandelson seems to have got that just right.”
It was by no means a simple relationship. Trump has been heard to describe Mandelson as “a sneaky guy,” according to one official present during conversations with the president.