Trump dodges Mandelson question as Starmer faces fallout over Epstein emails

Donald Trump dodged questions about Lord Mandelson's sacking over emails with Jeffrey Epstein at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Keir Starmer in the United States on Tuesday. Mandelson, described as a key New Labour architect who helped forge a Transatlantic trade pact, was dismissed by Starmer last week after reports surfaced about his friendship with Epstein following the financier's conviction. The exchange underscored mounting questions over the leadership's handling of the appointment and its fallout.

Trump told reporters he did not know Mandelson and said the prime minister would be better speaking on the matter, adding that Mandelson's firing was 'a choice that he made and I don't know.' He then directed questions back to Starmer, asking, 'What is your answer to that?' The prime minister replied that it was 'very straightforward' and that information had emerged last week that was not available when Mandelson was appointed.

Starmer's account has become a focal point for critics who questioned the handling of Mandelson's appointment and its dismissal. He acknowledged that officials were looking into fresh emails between Mandelson and Epstein when he spoke at Prime Minister's Questions last week, and he said he did not know the contents. He added that, in retrospect, it would have been better if the detailed allegations had been put in front of him before the high-profile session.

Observers note that Mandelson, a longtime ally of Labour who helped drive the party's postwar realignment, remains a controversial figure because of the Epstein ties raised in the emails. The episode has intensified scrutiny of Starmer's decision-making and raised questions about transparency in an administration navigating domestic political pressures and international relations in the run-up to major policy debates on trade and security.

Beyond the Mandelson matter, Trump has faced questions about his own ties to Epstein, and his remarks at the event drew attention to how foreign leaders respond to domestic controversies involving former officials with Epstein connections. The episode arrives as Starmer seeks to project steadiness and as Trump remains a central, polarizing figure in American and international politics.