“It’s an odd choice if the goal is to foster ties with the Trump administration,” remarked Dalibor Rohac from the American Enterprise Institute about Peter Mandelson’s appointment. Mandelson’s previous critiques of Trump have already stirred backlash from Trump loyalists, with senior campaign adviser Chris LaCivita labeling him “an absolute moron” on social media, as reported by the BBC.
However, all may not be lost. Despite his reputation for being thin-skinned, Trump has shown a pragmatic side in the past, often setting aside old grievances when it suits his goals. His selection of JD Vance as a running mate, despite previous tensions, is a prime example of this strategic leniency.
Yet, Rohac argues the challenges for Mandelson extend beyond personality clashes. Mandelson’s vocal pro-European Union stance is unlikely to sit well with the nationalist “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) movement. His position on China further complicates matters. “It is absurd to imagine putting a country of such weight in the naughty corner,” Mandelson wrote in 2018, criticizing Trump’s hawkish policies toward Beijing. He went on to criticize Trump’s trade agenda, calling it one-sided: “His idea of a progressive trade policy is one that forces everyone else to give the US more favorable treatment rather than a trading system from which everyone gains.”
Mandelson faces a steep challenge ahead, particularly in light of his central task: persuading Trump to abandon any plans to impose tariffs on Britain. “Generally speaking, [Mandelson] doesn’t strike me as someone who can effectively work with Trump’s team,” Rohac said. “I’m not sure he’s the ideal choice to ensure the success of the ‘special relationship’ the Brits are hoping for.” He added that Mandelson is “not a man of the future.”
The deeper concern, according to Rohac, is that Mandelson may approach a potential second Trump presidency in the same way as the first: as a storm to be weathered until the return of the pre-MAGA multilateral order. Rohac warns this approach won’t yield success. “[Mandelson] will fall back on outdated clichés and an old-school understanding of transatlantic relations. That just won’t get him far with the Trump team,” he said.
Mandelson isn’t alone in this dilemma. Many European officials and representatives are likely to view a second Trump term as an anomaly to endure rather than a transformative shift in American politics with long-lasting implications. Whether this strategy can succeed remains to be seen.
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