Ed Roman urges British diplomats to court Democrats without alienating Trump
The former British Embassy official says diplomats should build ties with possible Democratic successors while avoiding assumptions that a change of president would make relations easier.
Former British Embassy communications director Ed Roman advised British diplomats to cultivate relationships with possible Democratic successors while avoiding a show of abandoning Donald Trump’s administration, according to politico.eu. In an interview published on 6 November 2026, Roman said the U.S. midterm results should prompt preparation for future political changes, not an assumption that Britain’s dealings with Washington would become easier.
Roman spent five years on the British Embassy in Washington’s senior leadership team, serving during the Biden and second Trump administrations. In his first podcast interview since leaving the civil service a month earlier, he said Britain had been tracking potential Democratic contenders throughout the year. “If you’re doing it now, you’re kind of too late,” he said of efforts to build ties with Democrats who made gains in the midterms. He cautioned diplomats against appearing to go all-in on the jubilant opposition in a way that could provoke the current White House.
How the British Embassy is building political ties
Roman described competition among foreign missions to establish networks with rising U.S. politicians. “The French competitors, the German competitors, the Korean competitors — each embassy is trying to build a network that allows them a level of access,” he said. Britain also uses eight U.S. consulates to identify politicians outside Washington. Roman advised diplomats to get to know people around a likely front-runner, including figures who could join a future cabinet, White House or national security team. He said political outcomes can surprise, making a broad network useful beyond any one prospective president.
Why a change of president may not ease U.S.-UK relations
The midterms drew attention abroad and prompted varied reactions, PBS NewsHour reported on 5 November. European officials publicly expressed relief, while some leaders in the Global South described the results as a possible reset in world relations. European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said she hoped the new Congress and Senate would continue supporting Ukraine and put more pressure on Russia. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said the results could introduce “a new era in world relations.”
Roman cautioned that the results should not be read as a wholesale rejection of Trump’s “America First” outlook. In his view, economic nationalism and skepticism about U.S. global responsibilities could continue under a Democratic successor. He recalled that the Biden administration was challenging for Britain and “not particularly sentimental” about the country. Even if Democrats win the 2028 presidential election, he said, British diplomats should not assume that the relationship will automatically be easier.
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Sources and context
- How to curry favor with the next US president — without annoying TrumpPOLITICO Europe
- After midterms, world leaders await Trump's next move in IranPBS NewsHour
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.