Donald Trump skated over questions about Lord Mandelson’s sacking today insisting he ‘didn’t know’ the ex-ambassador.
The New Labour architect was credited with forging the Transatlantic trade pact before being dramatically axed by Sir Keir last week.
Emails had emerged showing Lord Mandelson had maintained a friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein after his conviction.
The US president – who has also faced questions over his own historical ties to Epstein – was asked at a joint press conference with Sir Keir today whether he had any sympathy with Lord Mandelson.
Mr Trump replied: ‘I don’t know him actually, I had heard that, and I think maybe the Prime Minister would be better speaking of that. It was a choice that he made and I don’t know.’
Throwing the issue over to Sir Keir he added: ‘What is your answer to that?’
The PM replied: ‘It’s very straightforward. Some information came to light last week which wasn’t available when he was appointed, and I made a decision about it, and that’s very clear.’
Sir Keir has been facing a mounting clamour of criticism over the handling of Lord Mandelson’s appointment, and subsequent dismissal.
The premier finally broke cover earlier this week to give his first account of what happened over the departure.
He acknowledged that he knew officials were looking into fresh emails between Lord Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein when he voiced ‘confidence’ in the New Labour architect at PMQs last week.
However, he insisted he did not know the contents – and seemed to throw his aides under the bus by saying ‘in retrospect’ it would have been ‘better’ if the detailed allegations had been ‘put in front of’ him before the high-profile session.
