Donald Trump‘s campaign manager branded Lord Mandelson a ‘moron’ who should ‘stay home’ – just minutes after he was confirmed as Britain’s new ambassador to the United States.
Chris LaCivita savaged Keir Starmer‘s decision to replace Dame Karen Pierce with the controversial Labour peer.
His intervention came after it emerged that Lord Mandelson had made a series of disparaging remarks about Mr Trump during his first term in office.
In 2019, he criticised Tory attempts to ‘make common cause with an American President who is little short of a white nationalist and racist’.
Downing Street confirmed Lord Mandelson’s appointment to Washington at 4.22pm, with the Prime Minister saying the man deemed by No 10 to be a safe pair of hands would bring ‘unrivalled experience to the role and take our partnership from strength to strength’.
But just 23 minutes later, Mr LaCivita posted a message on X criticising the PM’s decision to replace a ‘professional universally respected ambo with an absolute moron’.
He added: ‘He should stay home! SAD! Mandelson described Trump as a danger to the world and ‘little short of a white nationalist’.’
The extraordinary diplomatic spat threatens to undermine Sir Keir’s attempts to gloss over Labour’s past vitriol about Mr Trump and forge a working relationship with the incoming President.
Downing Street confirmed Lord Mandelson’s appointment as Britain’s new ambassador to the United States to Washington at 4.22pm
Chris LaCivita (pictured) savaged Keir Starmer ‘s decision to replace Dame Karen Pierce with the controversial Labour peer.
Mr LaCivta’s intervention came after it emerged that Lord Mandelson had made a series of disparaging remarks about Donald Trump during his first term in office
Bryan Lanza, another senior figure from the Trump campaign, said Mr LaCivita had a ‘colourful’ turn of phrase, but added: ‘That’s certainly his view and I wouldn’t be surprised if it is reflected by others in the inner circle… it is sad.’
Earlier, another ally of Mr Trump warned Lord Mandelson that he would have to drop Labour’s ‘snobbery’ towards the incoming president if he wanted to build strong relations and avoid a trade war.
Republican congressman Glenn Grothman said Labour’s past condemnation of Mr Trump would affect the initial relationship, because ‘he takes things personally’.
He told Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘It’s important for people in the Labour Party to look at the positive side of Donald Trump.
‘I think there is an element of snobbery in Left-wing parties… they feel themselves more refined or superior to President Trump.’
Lord Mandelson has recently urged Labour to adopt a ‘pragmatic’ approach to the incoming Trump administration, including exploiting Nigel Farage’s links with the Republicans as a ‘bridge’ to pursue British interests.
Downing Street believes Lord Mandelson’s networking abilities and trade experience, both as a former EU trade commissioner and business secretary, make him ideally qualified to deal with the Trump administration.
He is expected to start work in Washington shortly after Mr Trump’s inauguration on January 20.
Sir Keir said: ‘The United States is one of our most important allies and as we move into a new chapter in our friendship, Peter will bring unrivalled experience to the role and take our partnership from strength to strength.’
Lord Mandelson said the appointment was a ‘great honour’.
