Will Dame Karen Pierce become Britain’s next Ambassador to the US? Straight-talker once dubbed ‘fab’ by Donald Trump emerges as frontrunner
- She would become the first woman to hold the coveted Washington job
- The 60-year-old career diplomat has served in America as well as the Balkans
- Mr Trump has a notoriously testy relationship with the current UK Ambassador
She was once dubbed ‘fab’ by President Donald Trump – and now our most prominent female diplomat has emerged as the frontrunner to be Britain’s next Ambassador to the US.
Straight-talker Dame Karen Pierce is currently serving as the UK’s representative at the United Nations and would become the first woman to hold the coveted Washington job.
The 60-year-old career diplomat has served in America before, as well as being posted to the Balkans, Afghanistan and Pakistan, and is understood to be highly rated by the Prime Minister.
Straight-talker Dame Karen Pierce (pictured) is currently serving as the UK’s representative at the United Nations and would become the first woman to hold the coveted Washington job
Ahead of the start of post-Brexit trade talks with the United States, expected to begin in earnest once Britain leaves the European Union on January 31, the Government is hoping to ‘reset’ diplomatic relations in Washington after a strained period of embarrassing gaffes and rows.
Mr Trump has a notoriously testy relationship with the current UK Ambassador after a series of bitter public spats.
Outgoing Sir Kim Darroch (pictured) announced he would be stepping down after The Mail on Sunday revealed details of diplomatic cables in which he slammed the current US administration
Outgoing Sir Kim Darroch announced he would be stepping down after The Mail on Sunday revealed details of diplomatic cables in which he slammed the current US administration.
Sir Kim had described Mr Trump as ‘inept’, ‘insecure’ and ‘incompetent’ in the explosive memos to Downing Street, which were leaked to this newspaper.
In response, Mr Trump said that the United States would not deal with him any longer and branded him ‘a very stupid guy’, effectively ruling him persona non grata in the US capital.
It was later claimed that Sir Kim felt his resignation was inevitable when then Tory leadership frontrunner Boris Johnson failed to publicly support him at the height of the row.
Diplomatic sources claim Mr Trump has privately heaped praise on Dame Karen, and described her as ‘fab’ when dealing with her at the UN.
Diplomatic sources claim Mr Trump (pictured) has privately heaped praise on Dame Karen, and described her as ‘fab’ when dealing with her at the UN
Mr Johnson is also understood to be ‘a huge fan’ of Dame Karen, having worked closely with her during his time as Foreign Secretary.
However, neither Mr Trump or Mr Johnson should underestimate Dame Karen, who tells a formidable tale during speeches of her time as Ambassador in Kabul.
When her official motorcade was blocked by an overbearing Afghan army general, her bodyguard leapt out to inform the busybody that she must be allowed to proceed, saying: ‘She’s the British Ambassador, and she doesn’t take orders from anyone.’
Dame Karen claims ‘it is a pretty good description of an ambassador’.
A final decision on the plum posting is expected to be made early in the New Year.