Donald Trump Said King Charles Is a 'Great Man' — Then Changed Gear as He Often Does
Trump's glowing praise for King Charles ahead of next week's state visit tells only half the story.
King Charles's upcoming state visit to the United States has received an unusually warm endorsement from the man hosting it, with President Donald Trump telling the BBC that the trip could ‘absolutely’ help repair relations between Washington and London.
In a phone interview on Thursday, Trump was asked directly whether next week's royal visit could help mend the fraying ties between the two countries. Without hesitation, he said, "Absolutely. He's fantastic. He's a fantastic man. Absolutely the answer is yes," adding, "I know him well, I've known him for years. He's a brave man, and he's a great man. They would absolutely be a positive."
Charles and Queen Camilla are set to arrive in the United States on April 27 for a four-day state visit, where they will be received by President Trump, the first such visit by a British monarch since Queen Elizabeth II's trip in 2007. The itinerary looks dense. The couple will be welcomed informally by Trump and First Lady Melania over tea, followed by a garden party, a ceremonial military review, and a state dinner.
A private meeting between the King and the president is also scheduled, after which Charles will deliver an address to a joint meeting of Congress — the first such speech by a British monarch in 35 years. After Washington, the royal couple will travel on to New York, Virginia, and Bermuda before returning home. The Foreign Office has framed the trip as a celebration of the 250th anniversary of American independence, and a showcase of a partnership built on "shared prosperity, security and history."
The timing is of paramount importance given the strained relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom, over the war in Iran, over trade, and over Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Trump's BBC interview gave him a further opportunity to spell out his position on Starmer. Asked what he meant by suggesting the Prime Minister still had "plenty of time to recover," Trump said, "If he opened the North Sea and if his immigration policies became strong, which right now they're not, he can recover, but if he doesn't, I don't think he has a chance."
Yet not everyone in the royal orbit is singing from the same hymn sheet. On the same day, Trump was praising the King, the President found himself taking a swipe at his son. Prince Harry made an unannounced visit to Kyiv on Thursday, using the occasion to make a veiled dig at the current US administration. "This is a moment for American leadership, a moment for America to show that it can honor its international treaty obligations," he said.
Trump, asked about the remarks in the Oval Office, replied by being as unbothered as he could be and quickly redirecting. "How's he doing?" he shot back. "How's his wife? Please give her my regards." He then went on to question about his home country, saying, "I know one thing, Prince Harry is not speaking for the UK, that's for sure. I think I'm speaking for the UK more than Prince Harry."
