US President Donald Trump has weighed into the storm surrounding Prime Minister Keir Starmer's appointment of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's friend and ex-Labour grandee Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US.

The news comes as Starmer is battling for his political life, with critics in all parties—including his own—calling for him to resign over allegations that he has broken the ministerial code by appointing Mandelson despite admitting to knowing of his relationship with Epstein and Mandelson having failed his vetting by the security services despite Starmer's assurance the process had been followed.

Trump's tone seemed to pile further pressure on Starmer at a time of utmost vulnerability, before concluding with a surprisingly conciliatory tone.

He said via his Truth Social platform: "Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the United Kingdom acknowledged that he 'exercised wrong judgement' when he chose his Ambassador to Washington. I agree, he was a really bad pick. Plenty of time to recover, however! President DJT"

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