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Donald Trump Requested UK-Style Red Ministerial Dispatch Box as State Visit Gift

The British Government released over 1,000 pages of documents on Monday detailing negotiations behind a replica red box gifted to President Donald Trump, which Downing Street said symbolises the special relationship between Britain and the United States.
Sir Olly Robbins, then-Foreign Office chief, told fellow civil servants it was "clear that one of the gifts that would mean the most" to Trump would be a bespoke red box inscribed with "President of the United States."
Former British ambassador Lord Peter Mandelson described the procurement as "like something out of Thick of It," complaining the "saga goes on" while hitting out at the "incompetence" in organizing the diplomatic present.
Trump received the red box last September from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Chequers, though Mandelson was subsequently sacked as ambassador over his past friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The files emerged alongside broader documents regarding Starmer's controversial appointment of Mandelson, with communications also revealing internal frustration regarding Downing Street staff during a summit on Ukraine hosted by Trump.

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'Something out of The Thick Of It': Mandelson's anger over Trump red box

Donald Trump wanted a red dispatch box with the gold crest and lettering similar to a UK government ministerial box as a present for his state visit last year - Mandelson said it was like "something out of The Thick Of It."

3 hours ago·United Kingdom

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Daily Mirror

Lean Left

'Questions remain over dysfunction in Downing Street amid Peter Mandelson files'

Peter Mandelson assured the British government it would “never regret” appointing him as UK ambassador to the United States, according to the documents

12 hours ago·London, United Kingdom

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Metro News

Lean Left

Mandelson blasts omnishambles over Trump's red box 'like The Thick Of It'

Peter Mandelson went full Malcolm Tucker lashing out at the ministerial Thick Of It level 'incompetence' over Donald Trump's gift of a red despatch box.

13 hours ago·London, United Kingdom

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