In a speech laser-focused on securing a technology pact, UK Ambassador Peter Mandelson offered a glowing endorsement of Donald Trump that completely ignored one of the most pressing concerns of Western allies: his “creeping domestic authoritarianism.” Critics were quick to point out that the ambassador’s praise for Trump’s “risk-taking” abroad came with a deafening silence on his actions at home.
Mandelson’s address to the Ditchley Foundation portrayed the US president as a strong, decisive leader shaking up a stale global system. He lauded Trump’s interventions on the world stage and his willingness to challenge norms. However, this positive framing was achieved by selectively omitting any reference to concerns about the rule of law, democratic institutions, or respect for political opponents within the United States.
This glaring omission is central to the critique of Mandelson’s position. It suggests a foreign policy that prioritizes strategic interests, like competing with China, over the shared democratic values that have historically underpinned the US-UK alliance. For many, this is a dangerous trade-off, creating a partnership of convenience rather than one of principle.
By making his pitch for a tech alliance without acknowledging these fundamental issues, Mandelson presented a transactional vision of the “special relationship.” It’s a vision where the perceived benefits of a partnership on AI and quantum computing are deemed important enough to overlook the erosion of the very democratic ideals that technology is often claimed to support.