Angela Rayner tells J.D. Vance about ‘special relationship’ after winning election

Angela Rayner spoke with US Vice President-elect J.D. Vance the day after he won the White House as Donald Trump’s running mate.

The Deputy Prime Minister wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, that it was “a pleasure to speak” with the Ohio senator, the latest sign that the UK government is trying to build a relationship with the new US administration.

She said: “Pleasure to speak with US Vice President-elect @JDVance in his capacity as UK Deputy Prime Minister.

“We talked about our plans for the future and how, by working together, we are building a special relationship between our great countries.”

It comes after Sir Keir Starmer spoke to Trump on Wednesday following his election victory.

The Prime Minister offered his “heartfelt congratulations” in their first conversation after the result.

Downing Street said: “The Prime Minister offered his warmest congratulations and said he looked forward to working closely with President-elect Trump in all areas of the special relationship.”

Sir Keir met Trump during a visit to New York in September, where they dined at Trump Tower with Foreign Secretary David Lammy.

The inauguration of the president-elect will take place on January 20, 2025 in Washington.

There have been concerns that British politicians’ comments about Trump could damage relations between the UK government and the president-elect.

They include words from senior party figures, including Lammy, who called the Republican politician a supporter of “neo-Nazis.”

Meanwhile, Ms Rayner branded Mr Trump an “absolute buffoon” during his handling of the Covid pandemic.

She told ITV: “He’s an absolute buffoon. He has no place in the White House. He is a disgrace and should be ashamed, especially when thousands of Americans have died.”

After he lost the 2020 election, she later said she was “very happy to see the back of Donald Trump.”

Ms Rayner also rejected Mr Vance’s description of the UK as a “truly Islamist” country with nuclear weapons.

She told ITV in July that Mr Vance had said “quite a lot of racy things in the past” but said she “didn’t accept” his views on the UK.