Peter Mandelson mocked for ’embarrassing’ praise of Trump amid claims ambassador will ‘struggle’ to build UK-US rapport
Former Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng has branded Lord Peter Mandelson’s recent praise of Donald Trump as “embarrassing” and “toe-curling”, suggesting the UK’s likely new US Ambassador will struggle to build a relationship with the 47th President.
Speaking to GB News, Kwarteng delivered a scathing assessment of Mandelson’s appearance on Fox News, claiming it appeared “as if something had been stuffed in his backside” during the interview.
“I don’t think he believes that,” Kwarteng said of Mandelson’s complimentary remarks about Trump.
The former Chancellor, who said he “knows and likes” Mandelson personally, predicted the peer would face difficulties in his new role.
Kwasi Kwarteng hit out at Peter Mandelson’s ‘toe curling’ praise of Donald Trump
GB News / Reuters / PA
“I think he will struggle actually, because Trump is transactional, but I don’t think he entirely forgets what people have said,” Kwarteng warned.
Lord Mandelson appeared on Fox News to walk back his previous criticisms of Trump, describing his past remarks as “ill-judged and wrong”.
The likely new UK Ambassador to the US praised Trump’s “dynamism and energy” in both campaigning and governing.
“I think times and attitudes towards the President have changed since then,” Mandelson told the conservative-backing channel.
‘Trump could become one of the most consequential American presidents I have known in my adult life,’ Mandelson saidFOX NEWS Kwarteng acknowledged Mandelson’s political abilities, noting that “nobody’s better than Peter at actually sucking up to power”.
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However, the former Chancellor suggested these skills might not be enough to overcome Trump’s memory of previous criticisms.
“Donald won’t forget those earlier remarks,” Kwarteng told the People’s Channel. “But they’re pragmatic, they’ll do deals.”
He suggested Mandelson’s recent praise of Trump was driven by necessity rather than conviction.
“That clip we saw, which was toe curling, frankly, where he said Trump was brilliant and all that sort of thing, he had to say that because there was a risk that they weren’t going to waive him through,” Kwarteng explained.
Kwarteng told GB News that Mandelson will ‘struggle’ to build a rapport with Trump
GB News
“I think Peter will struggle to get to the front of the queue,” he added. “Maybe he will in time, but I think he’s got a lot of work to do to get there.”
Delivering his verdict of Mandelson, host Nigel Farage claimed the likely ambassador “clearly wants the job”, but warned the one person who will “not bend” to Mandelson is “Donald Trump” himself.
He added: “We know he’s very clever. I watch Donald, and Donald is sharp. Very, very sharp.
“Peter is intelligent in a different kind of way. I watched him as European Commissioner – I was diametrically opposed to him, but I had to admit his mastery of detail was remarkable.”
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