President Donald Trump Calls Charles 'The Greatest King in My Book' In Sweet Gesture

Donald Trump delivers a heartfelt farewell to King Charles, hailing the monarch as a 'great person' on the White House steps.

King Charles and Queen Camilla's visit to the US, which started from Capitol Hill and extended to Harlem in New York, was a huge success, as the camaraderie between the monarchs and their hosts was on full display. The couple also received a warm send-off from Donald Trump at the White House on April 30. Standing on the red carpet outside the South Portico, the American President was full of praise for the monarch. Pointing toward the monarch as cameras flashed nearby, he remarked, “Great King,” before going a step further and declaring Charles, “The greatest king in my book.” The farewell ceremony concluded a closely watched diplomatic mission designed to strengthen the ‘special relationship’ between the US and the UK.

Following a relaxed exchange inside the White House, the two leaders stepped outside together, chatting warmly toward the royal motorcade. President Trump stayed behind on the steps to share a final message with the reporters. “Great people,” he remarked, also noting, “We need more people like that in our country.” While the President shared glowing praise for his ‘friend,’ the monarch also made history during the visit by becoming the first reigning sovereign since his mother Queen Elizabeth in 1991 to address a joint meeting of Congress.

The visit was filled with royal pageantry, including a high-profile dinner with guests like Jeff Bezos and Rory McIlroy. With that, the tour also highlighted the King’s trademark approach to soft diplomacy. During their time in New York, Charles joined young children at a community farming initiative in Harlem, while on the other hand, Camilla promoted her efforts for literacy in the presence of several well-known authors. After saying their goodbyes to President Trump, the royal couple made their way from the White House to Arlington National Cemetery for one of the most solemn moments of the visit. Surrounded by a military guard of honor and the sound of both national anthems, the King laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. 

The moment of silence marked a noticeable shift from the upbeat atmosphere that had defined the morning’s farewell. Over the course of the visit, King Charles frequently used his sharp humor to connect with those around him. From telling comedian Matt Friend to perfect his English accent to describing the White House state dinner as a “significant improvement on the Boston Tea Party,” the world simply loved the monarch’s sarcasm. He even playfully commented on the rift between Trump and Keir Starmer by joking, “When you like the ​king of a country so much, it probably helps your relationship with the prime minister.” Now, as the couple departs for Bermuda before returning to London, the UK government is allegedly feeling a sense of “definite relief and happiness” at the tour’s reception.

While differences between the Trump administration and Downing Street remain part of the broader political landscape, the strong personal connection between the President and Charles was clearly visible throughout the visit. For Trump, however, the royal visit appeared to carry meaning beyond matters of state and into personal respect for the monarch.