Downing Street said Lord Peter Mandelson will play a full role in President Donald Trump’s state visit next week, rejecting calls that he be asked to stay away amid mounting questions about a past association with Jeffrey Epstein.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said the ambassador "will obviously be represented at the state visit, as you would expect," and dismissed suggestions that Mandelson might be sidelined to avoid embarrassment to the government or the Royal Family. The two-day visit will include a state dinner at Windsor Castle hosted by the King and private discussions between Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and President Trump.
Whitehall sources said Mandelson has played a key role coordinating the summit with the White House and Buckingham Palace and is expected to attend the state dinner. Officials also said he has been advising the White House on ceremonial aspects of the visit, including the history and protocol associated with Windsor Castle. Mandelson held talks with Sir Keir in Downing Street last week to finalise arrangements and to brief the prime minister on issues he is likely to raise during President Trump’s trip.
Sir Keir defended Mandelson on Thursday, praising his effectiveness since his appointment in February and saying the peer was "playing an important role in the UK-US relationship." The defence came as coverage in UK media and commentary in some quarters intensified calls for Mandelson to resign or be asked to step back from high-profile public duties while questions about his past links to Epstein are examined.
Government officials emphasised that ambassadors and senior envoys often coordinate closely with host governments and palace officials ahead of state visits, and that involvement in ceremonial and policy planning does not, in itself, represent an endorsement of an individual's private history. Downing Street’s position leaves Mandelson in place for both the formal and private elements of the visit, including attendance at the King’s state dinner at Windsor and at scheduled bilateral talks.
The state visit is one of the highest-profile diplomatic engagements between the United States and the United Kingdom, bringing together senior politicians, royal household officials and White House aides. The decision to keep Mandelson centrally involved underscores the government’s focus on logistical continuity in the run-up to the summit, while critics argue such choices raise questions about judgement and propriety given the sensitivity of the allegations linked to Epstein.
Mandelson, a Labour peer and former cabinet minister who was appointed to his current diplomatic role in February, has not been charged with any offence related to Epstein. Media reports and opposition voices have urged greater transparency about his advisory role and contacts with US officials during the visit’s planning. Downing Street and Whitehall sources said the arrangements for the visit have been driven by practical coordination with the White House and Buckingham Palace and that they expect Mandelson to be present for both ceremonial and private discussions.
The visit is scheduled to take place next week. Government and palace officials have declined to provide further comment on individual guest lists for the state dinner or the private meetings between Sir Keir and President Trump. Questions about Mandelson’s role are likely to continue to feature in coverage as the summit approaches.