Sign Up Account Profile Log Out

Newsletters Morning Report 12:30 Report Evening Report Business Defense Health Care Technology Newsletter Energy & Environment Whole Hog Politics The Gavel The Movement

Technology Newsletter

NEWS Senate House Administration Courts Future America Media Campaign News Education In The Know Latino LGBTQ DC News Race & Politics State Watch Print Edition People in the News

POLICY Defense Health Care Energy & Environment Technology Transportation International Cybersecurity National Security Space Sustainability

BUSINESS Budget Taxes Personal Finance Lobbying

OPINION Columnists Congress Blog All Contributors Opinions – Campaign Opinions – Civil Rights Opinions – Criminal Justice Opinions – Cybersecurity Opinions – Education Opinions – Energy and Environment Opinions – Finance Opinions – Healthcare Opinions – Immigration Opinions – International Opinions – Judiciary Opinions – National Security Opinions – Technology Opinions – White House Submit Opinion Content

All Contributors Opinions – Campaign Opinions – Civil Rights Opinions – Criminal Justice Opinions – Cybersecurity Opinions – Education Opinions – Energy and Environment Opinions – Finance Opinions – Healthcare Opinions – Immigration Opinions – International Opinions – Judiciary Opinions – National Security Opinions – Technology Opinions – White House

Opinions – Civil Rights

Opinions – Criminal Justice

Opinions – Cybersecurity

Opinions – Energy and Environment

Opinions – Healthcare

Opinions – Immigration

Opinions – International

Opinions – National Security

Opinions – Technology

Opinions – White House

Submit Opinion Content

EVENTS Upcoming Events About

Sign Up Account Profile Log Out

Live updates: State of the Union

Trump approval rating

Content from Google Cloud

Trump’s tricky balance for State of the Union 12:30 Report | 1 minute ago

Opinion All eyes on Iran: How far is Trump willing to go? Opinions - National Security | 9 minutes ago

Senate Democrats press CFTC chair on prediction markets Senate | 12 minutes ago

New British ambassador dishes on Trump’s ‘genius,’ post-Mandelson vetting and Chagos tensions Administration | 19 minutes ago

Federal Reserve governor warns AI could lead to rise in unemployment rate Technology | 24 minutes ago

Live updates: Trump ready to tout busy first year in State of the Union Administration | 34 minutes ago

Trump facing pressure to restore Global Entry program Administration | 36 minutes ago

Mace on Epstein files: ‘This is much bigger than a prostitution and sex trafficking ring’ House | 38 minutes ago

New British ambassador dishes on Trump’s ‘genius,’ post-Mandelson vetting and Chagos tensions

Just hours after former U.K. ambassador to the U.S. Peter Mandelson was arrested in London on Monday on suspicion of leaking government secrets to Jeffrey Epstein, his successor was feted at a welcoming party in Washington, D.C.

For Christian Turner, the shadow and scandal surrounding Mandelson is inescapable. But the incoming British ambassador to the U.S. has little to say about it. 

Asked about Mandelson during an interview with The Hill a few days before his predecessor’s arrest, Turner reads out previous statements from the U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the fiasco.

Turner, a career diplomat, says he’s in Washington to “get stuff done.” 

“I’m not one of those people who’s always been ambitious for the amazing house and the flummery and the sort of prestige of the job of ambassador,” he said to The Hill from the Edwin Lutyens designed mansion on Massachusetts Avenue in D.C.

“We’re here to make a difference and to not manage problems, but solve them.”

He also emphasizes that because of his previous security work — as the lead negotiator for the Foreign Office, where he says his job was “basically focused on Gaza, Ukraine and Iran” — he is “vetted to within an inch of my life.”

“There is nothing that is not out there or exposed,” he adds. “That’s what is required to have the security clearances that I do.”

Turner’s appointment was unexpected. Just a year ago, Mandelson was being introduced to D.C.’s movers and shakers at the same British Ambassador’s residence with a party in the presence of Starmer, who waxed eloquently about his choice of envoy. 

Fast forward a year, and Starmer is fighting for his own job amid Mandelson’s spectacular fall from grace. 

The ongoing Mandelson controversy, however, isn’t dimming Turner’s excitement for the job in D.C. His appointment as ambassador is something of a homecoming for the envoy, who served as First Secretary at the U.K. embassy at the start of his career nearly three decades ago. 

“I know this town well. Both my children were born here. I was newly married as a young man here, so it’s a very, very happy place for me to return to. It’s also really the political capital of the world. So in our business, why would you not want to be here and enjoying that and in the middle of it, in such an important relationship?”

The start of Turner’s tenure as the U.K’s new man in Washington comes at a tricky time for the British government. 

As the interview was underway, President Trump took to Truth Social to criticize Starmer’s plan to cede the strategically vital Chagos Islands to Mauritius, with a lease to maintain the U.K. military presence there.  

Trump warned Starmer not to “give away Diego Garcia” and said “this land should not be taken away from the U.K.,” adding that doing so would be “a blight on our Great Ally”, The post was shared widely by political rivals of Starmer, who have long opposed the deal. 

Just days before, however, the U.S. State Department had officially endorsed the deal, saying it “supports the decision” of the U.K. to move forward with Mauritius. 

When asked about Trump’s apparent U-turn on the Chagos deal, Turner responds diplomatically, saying, “you wouldn’t expect me as ambassador to come and be criticizing the president.” 

So how will he deal with a president who often shifts his stances from one day to the next? 

“One wants to operate on a basis of no surprises, and to have to be able to have that trusting conversation in a space where you can understand each other, resolve the differences,” he says. 

Trump’s “genius,”  he adds, “is his political communication”. 

This is not Turner’s first time dealing with Trump. The incoming ambassador cited the relationships he formed with the president’s team during his first administration, when he was deputy national security adviser under Prime Minister Theresa May.

Turner said his experience organizing Trump’s state visit to the U.K. in 2018, and a subsequent visit in 2019 gave him plenty of access and insight to the president and his inner circle. 

“I saw him and the team around him then very up close,” Turner said. The Chagos dispute one of several challenges on Turner’s plate. A highly anticipated trade deal between the U.S. and U.K. announced last year remains in limbo.

The Supreme Court has since upended Trump’s economic agenda, striking down the majority of his tariffs and leaving a wave of uncertainty for countries that quickly negotiated deals when the tariffs were first announced, including the U.K. 

“​​We’ll of course be working closely with the U.S. government to understand the impact for the U.K.. Because of our May 8 deal and the balanced trading relationship we have had with the U.S. for a very long time, the U.K. already secured the lowest reciprocal tariffs globally before this Supreme Court ruling,” Turner says. 

He adds that “generally the U.K. supports lower tariffs and we will continue to support U.K. businesses as further details are announced. But under any scenario we expect our privileged trading position with the U.S. to continue.” 

Trump has since warned any country that tries to “play games” with the U.S. on trade after the Supreme Court decision will face “a much higher tariff” than their current agreement. 

Downing Street has insisted “nothing is off the table” when it comes to the U.K.’s response to Trump’s threats of increased global tariffs in light of the ruling.

In the short term, Turner’s priority is bringing trade barriers down for the benefit of both countries. 

Already, the U.K. is the largest foreign investor in more than 20 U.S. states with U.K.-U.S. trade estimated at $430 billion last year. 

“That means that U.K. investment is creating and sustaining American jobs. And we see the same in reverse with U.S. investment into the U.K. delivering growth. So, any way we can find to reduce those barriers we see as a benefit to us both,” he says. 

At his official welcome party Monday, Turner’s new gig was celebrated in the company of Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz, and Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby. 

At one point, the ambassador held up a red “Make America Great Again” hat he says Trump handed him when they met in the Oval Office.

“Someone once defined a diplomat as ‘someone who tells you how to go to hell in such a way as you want to ask for directions,’” he told the crowd. “I will try and live up to that, but in the family-friendly version of the expression, I’m also here to ‘get stuff done.’”

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

More Administration News

Gorsuch takes aim at fellow Supreme Court justices in tariff decision

Hegseth says he’ll order random pizzas to throw off monitoring app

White House plays hardball with Democrats over DHS shutdown

France bars US ambassador Kushner from meeting government officials  

Democratic leaders scrambling to prevent repeat of last year’s rowdy State of ...

Senate Democrats unveil proposal to discourage private equity ownership of homes

New British ambassador dishes on Trump’s ‘genius,’ post-Mandelson vetting ...

Here’s how Trump’s polling has changed since last year

Former FBI official: Patel Olympics appearance sends ‘horrible’ message to ...

Democrats prepare to protest Trump State of the Union: What to know

US imposes 10 percent tariff after Trump promises 15 percent rate

Massie calls for Gonzales to resign: ‘Where are the other men in the GOP?’

Mace on Epstein files: ‘This is much bigger than a prostitution and sex ...

Trump puts Iran’s leader in double bind: Capitulation or risk of war

GOP members call on Tony Gonzales to resign over alleged affair

Republicans eye opening for DHS deal this week as Democrats double down

Senate Democrat: Trump has ‘no intention of following’ Constitution on ...

State Department receives hundreds of calls on 24/7 crisis hotline for US ...

The Hill Podcasts – Morning Report

2024 Election Results

2024 Election Forecast

Regulation - Administration

Energy & Environment Video Clips

Health Care Video Clips

Technology Video Clips

Transportation Video Clips

International Video Clips

Cybersecurity Video Clips

National Security Video Clips

Contributors to The Hill

Submit Opinion Content

PRIVACY POLICY 09/30/2025

Advertise with Nexstar

Journalistic Integrity

THE HILL 400 N CAPITOL STREET NW, SUITE 650 WASHINGTON DC 20002

© 1998 - 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved.

Provided by Nexstar Media Group, Inc.

Sign in to create a free account. No password needed.

By clicking on any of the sign up options below, you confirm that you have read and agree to our Terms of Use, which includes a jury trial waiver and class action waiver, and that you have read our Privacy Policy detailing our collection, use and sharing of your personal information.

By clicking on any of the sign up options below, you confirm that you have read and agree to our Terms of Use, which includes a jury trial waiver and class action waiver, and that you have read our Privacy Policy detailing our collection, use and sharing of your personal information.

The Hill is provided by Nexstar Media Group, Inc., and uses the My Nexstar sign-in, which works across our media network.

Learn more at nexstar.tv/privacy-policy.

The Hill is provided by Nexstar Media Group, Inc., and uses the My Nexstar sign-in, which works across our media network.

Nexstar Media Group, Inc. is a leading, diversified media company that produces and distributes engaging local and national news, sports, and entertainment content across its television and digital platforms. The My Nexstar sign-in works across the Nexstar network—including The CW, NewsNation, The Hill, and more. Learn more at nexstar.tv/privacy-policy.

Provided by Nexstar Media Group, Inc.

Check your email inbox

Provided by Nexstar Media Group, Inc.

Thanks for registering!

Provided by Nexstar Media Group, Inc.

Are you sure you want to log out?

© The Hill