Just as Donald Trump prepares for a high-profile state visit to the UK next week, he’s walking straight into yet another Epstein minefield — this time, one that has already claimed a major political casualty on the other side of the Atlantic.
Lord Peter Mandelson, Britain’s ambassador to the U.S., was abruptly sacked after newly surfaced emails and correspondence revealed his disturbingly cozy relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The dismissal, coming just days before Trump’s arrival, casts a fresh spotlight on the former president’s own long history with the disgraced financier — and it’s not the kind of attention anyone in Trump’s camp wants.
“The timing is supremely awkward because Donald Trump is visiting Britain on a state visit next week, and, of course, Donald Trump doesn’t want to hear the word Epstein ever again,” said Ed Luce, chief U.S. commentator for the Financial Times, during an MSNBC segment.
This latest chapter began when newly unearthed materials showed Mandelson had maintained a close relationship with Epstein — including referring to him as his “best pal” in a fawning entry for Epstein’s now-infamous 50th birthday greetings book. That same book, it turns out, also included a crude note from Trump himself, reportedly depicting a woman and referencing shared secrets with Epstein.
According to Luce, the fallout was inevitable.
“Peter Mandelson had been just just turned up as ambassador in January, and he was picked as a sort of – he’s a big, big figure in the Labour Party. He was one of Tony Blair’s gurus, helped reinvent Labour the whole third-way thing, controversial career, you know, had to resign a couple of times from Blair’s government. But it turns out he was a good friend of of Epstein, and he he’d been part of that notorious birthday, 50th birthday greetings book, so Keir Starmer, I think, had no choice but to fire him.”
The scandal places Starmer’s new government in an uncomfortable position — needing to project strength and clarity while also preparing to host a U.S. president whose own Epstein ties have never really gone away.
“I think it’s the end of Peter Mandelson’s career,” Luce said. “A very talented politician, you know, ethically, fairly challenged and not surprised he was fired. I’m surprised it wasn’t, you know, yesterday, frankly, but the context is this state visit of Trump to Britain and Epstein is just on on the front page of every newspaper and will be next week.”
Indeed, the media storm shows no signs of slowing. British tabloids are already splashing headlines tying Mandelson and Epstein to Trump, recycling years of photos and quotes that Trump’s team would probably prefer buried in the past. But now, those skeletons are back out — right as he’s set to shake hands, pose for photos, and project presidential poise on foreign soil.
No matter how carefully choreographed next week’s state visit may be, there’s no escaping the shadow of Epstein — and this time, Trump won’t be the only one trying to duck it.
Watch the segment below from MSNBC:
