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Grovelling Peter Mandelson now says he was ‘ill-judged and WRONG’ to name Donald Trump ‘a hazard to the world’ – as ex-Labour spin chief begs to be made Our Man In Washington

Lord Peter Mandelson has admitted he was ‘ill-judged and wrong’ to brand Donald Trump a ‘danger to the world’.

The Labour peer walked back his comments about the American President as he prepared to be confirmed as the UK’s new ambassador to the US.

This will see him move into the swanky British ambassador’s resident in Washington DC, which recently underwent a multi-million pound refurbishment.

Ahead of his official start as the UK’s top diplomat in the US, Lord Mandelson said Mr Trump had won ‘fresh respect’ since winning a second term in the White House.

He also claimed the property mogul turned politician ‘could become one of the most consequential American presidents I have known in my adult life’.

Lord Mandelson was forced to disown his 2019 remarks about Mr Trump after they emerged following his nomination as the UK’s new ambassador to the US.

In the comments to an Italian podcast, the former MP and Cabinet minister also suggested Mr Trump was ‘little short of a white nationalist and racist’.

It had been feared Lord Mandelson’s past views would hinder Sir Keir Starmer‘s efforts to boost the Labour Government’s relations with Mr Trump. 

Lord Peter Mandelson has admitted he was 'ill-judged and wrong' to brand Donald Trump a 'danger to the world'

Lord Peter Mandelson has admitted he was ‘ill-judged and wrong’ to brand Donald Trump a ‘danger to the world’

The Labour peer walked back his comments about the American President as he prepared to be confirmed as the UK's new ambassador to the US

The Labour peer walked back his comments about the American President as he prepared to be confirmed as the UK’s new ambassador to the US

PM Sir Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy met with outgoing ambassador Dame Karen Pierce at her swanky residence in September

PM Sir Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy met with outgoing ambassador Dame Karen Pierce at her swanky residence in September

The British embassy in Washington DC recently underwent a multi-million pound refurbishment

The British embassy in Washington DC recently underwent a multi-million pound refurbishment

But, speaking to Fox News, Lord Mandelson said he was ‘confident’ of striking up a strong working relationship with Mr Trump’s new administration.

Quizzed about his previous comments, he said: ‘I consider my remarks about President Trump as ill-judged and wrong.

‘I think that times and attitudes toward the President have changed since then.

‘I think people have been impressed, not just by the extraordinary second mandate that he’s received from the American people, but the dynanism and energy with which he approached bot just the campaign but government as well.

‘I think that he has won fresh respect. He certainly has from me, and that is going to be the basis of all the work I do as His Majesty’s ambassador in the United States.’ 

As he lavished praise on Mr Trump at the start of his second term, Lord Mandelson added: ‘I think President Trump could become one of the most consequential American presidents I have known in my adult life. 

‘Why do I say that? Because there are so many threats and challenges the world is facing at the moment.

‘It takes courage, somebody sometimes who is prepared to be argumentative and, indeed, disruptive. Not just take business as usual and say ‘well, this is the way we’ve done things in the past, so let’s just carry on doing what we have always have done’.

‘I think something more and better and bigger is required in the world in the 21st century.’

He also claimed Mr Trump would bring ‘leadership to all the freedom-loving democracies in the world’ over the next four years.

Lord Mandelson also dismissed concerns about the prospect of Mr Trump and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer being about to forge a successful relationship.

‘They’re not Siamese twins… but they’re both pragmatic people,’ he said. ‘They know where each is coming from, they want to find common ground.

‘I feel very optimistic. I feel very upbeat about the relationship that they’re both going to have.’

Lord Manelson is expected to be confirmed as the UK’s new ambassador to the US despite reports that concerns had been raised about his links to China.

Downing Street this week defended the Labour peer amid a report that a dossier about him had been passed to the FBI.

US senators reportedly handed a document outlining his links to China to federal investigators.

The PM’s spokesman said Lord Mandelson had declared all his interests as part of the clearance process.