The process of sourcing a special gift for former US President Donald Trump during his UK state visit last year has been likened to the chaotic scenes depicted in the satirical BBC comedy The Thick of It, according to emails released by the government. Lord Peter Mandelson, who was at the centre of a separate controversy regarding his appointment to a prestigious Washington role, unleashed a barrage of criticism, labelling the ministerial “incompetence” surrounding the gift as truly staggering.
The coveted item in question was a red despatch box, a symbol typically reserved for UK government ministers, which was to be presented to the then-President Trump. The behind-the-scenes saga involved protracted exchanges between high-ranking officials, with the “state of the gift” remaining a point of contention even weeks before Trump’s arrival.
Ultimately, the bespoke box, embossed with the presidential seal and title, was presented to Donald Trump by Sir Keir Starmer at Chequers, the Prime Minister’s country retreat, in September of the previous year. Downing Street at the time described the gift as a symbol of the “special relationship between the UK and US.”
A “Thick of It” Saga Unfolds
The extent of the intricate negotiations and the apparent disorganisation surrounding the despatch box were revealed in a recent tranche of government communications. These documents shed light on the lead-up to Sir Keir Starmer’s controversial decision to appoint Lord Mandelson to a significant role in Washington, a decision that ultimately led to Mandelson’s departure following revelations of his association with Jeffrey Epstein.
Among the released documents were emails with the subject line “Trump Red Box” and marked “official sensitive.” These communications highlighted the ongoing confusion regarding the gift’s status. As early as last August, Sir Olly Robbins, then chief of the Foreign Office, who was reportedly dismissed earlier this year over the Mandelson affair, conveyed the embassy in Washington’s clear understanding of what would be most meaningful to the President.
- Robbins noted in an email: “the embassy in Washington was ‘clear that one of the gifts that would mean the most to the president would be a red despatch box with the gold crest and lettering mimicking a UK Government ministerial box but with ‘President of the United States’ inscribed upon it’.”
On the same day, James Roscoe, the then deputy head of mission in Washington, who subsequently left his post abruptly, stressed the need for swift action.
- Roscoe wrote: “I do think we need to move with some urgency here…”
David Tinline, a civil servant at Downing Street, also sought assistance to navigate the complex situation.
- Tinline requested: “I would be grateful for any support/ideas on a way through this – including potentially more senior representation at that meeting to help push things forward.”
Further exchanges revealed a lack of clarity regarding the manufacturing process. Mr. Roscoe inquired about the progress with the firm responsible for creating the despatch boxes, Barrow, Hepburn & Gale.
- He stated: “It needs to be ready in two weeks to gift for the SV (state visit).”
- He also questioned: “And why have HMT (His Majesty’s Treasury) sat on this since February?”
A separate email from Mr. Tinline indicated that Buckingham Palace was to be involved in the gifting process.
Amidst this bureaucratic tangle, Lord Mandelson himself expressed his exasperation in an email to Morgan McSweeney, the Prime Minister’s then chief of staff.
- Mandelson wrote: “The saga goes on. See Olly email. This is like something out of Thick of it.”
In a subsequent message concerning the “Trump Red Box,” he further elaborated on his frustration with the perceived lack of foresight within Whitehall.
- Mandelson commented: “What the attachment says is that Whitehall has known about (redacted) since February and it was confirmed in early July and nobody had the wit to say anything. What incompetence.”
Broader Criticisms and Political Maneuvering
The released communications also captured Lord Mandelson’s less-than-flattering assessments of Mr. McSweeney and other Downing Street staff. These remarks were made in the context of the Prime Minister’s attendance at a multilateral summit on Ukraine hosted by Mr. Trump at the White House in August of the previous year.
In WhatsApp messages exchanged with Cabinet minister Pat McFadden, Lord Mandelson described the contingent of Number 10 officials.
- Mandelson remarked: “We have a whole lot of No10 keystone cops coming, including Morgan, falling over themselves and complaining they won’t all be in the Oval (none of us will be).”
The document dump also revealed Lord Mandelson’s efforts to manage his relationship with Nigel Farage in the lead-up to his move to Washington. Lord Mandelson stated he had been messaging Farage, attempting to “keep him nice without complete success.”
In a WhatsApp conversation dating from January 2025, Lord Mandelson and former Number 10 adviser Matthew Doyle discussed media reports suggesting that the Reform UK leader had been in contact with senior government figures, offering to act as an intermediary to improve relations with Mr. Trump.
When asked by Mr. Doyle if he recognised Farage’s claims, Lord Mandelson responded.
- Mandelson explained: “He may mean me because we have exchanged messages eg last week he went on TV and tried to make a thing about me not coming to the inaugural and I explained that I had to go through all formalities before setting foot on US soil etc.”
- He added: “I am trying to keep him nice without complete success. I would advise against anything which sounds disobliging.”
Earlier messages on the same day between Lord Mandelson and Mr. Doyle indicated discussions about news stories and social media speculation surrounding the possibility of Mr. Trump rejecting Lord Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador.
