Peter Mandelson, the UK's newly appointed ambassador to the United States, has retracted his previous characterization of Donald Trump as a "danger to the world," telling Fox News Digital that his earlier assessment was "ill-judged and wrong." This comes as Mandelson addresses questions regarding his past association with Jeffrey Epstein.

Mandelson's connection to Epstein, the deceased financier and convicted sex offender, has come under scrutiny following the release of a 2019 JPMorgan document highlighting a close relationship between Epstein, Prince Andrew, and Mandelson, then a senior British government official. When questioned by the Financial Times about his introduction to Epstein through Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's former partner and convicted sex trafficker, Mandelson reportedly responded with an expletive. He later expressed regret to the outlet, stating, "I regret ever meeting him or being introduced to him by his partner Ghislaine Maxwell. I regret even more the hurt he caused to many young women."

A British embassy spokesperson echoed Mandelson's sentiments, emphasizing his remorse over his association with Epstein. Meanwhile, Prince Andrew's alleged ties to Epstein continue to draw attention, with reports surfacing about his continued communication with the financier even after publicly claiming to have severed ties. Last year, Andrew settled a civil lawsuit with Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of sexual abuse facilitated by Maxwell. He has consistently denied these allegations.

In his recent Fox News op-ed, Mandelson stressed the importance of respecting the American electorate's decisions and emphasized his pro-business stance, aiming to distance himself from the perception of being anti-business or overly liberal. He also identified China as an area for potential US-UK collaboration, suggesting that both nations could work strategically to "outsmart and keep ahead of the curve" regarding China's growing influence. Mandelson acknowledged Trump's desire for dialogue and deal-making with China while recognizing the need for a cautious approach.

Leaked emails have revealed alleged communication between Mandelson and Epstein extending into 2012, including an alleged exchange between Epstein and former Barclays CEO Jes Staley regarding Mandelson's stay at Epstein's New York City property. Reports suggest Mandelson stayed at the property on at least two occasions, in 2009 and 2012.