King Charles is Canada’s secret weapon against Trump – his visit will be complex & fraught, expert says
KING Charles is Canada’s secret weapon against US president Donald Trump, an expert has said ahead of the monarch’s visit to the state.
Charles and Camilla will head to Ottawa later this month in what could be a “complex and fraught” visit amid rhetoric from the US President indicating a desire to turn Canada into its 51st state.
An expert has said the King could serve, however, as Canada’s secret weapon against these threats, given Trump has been invited for a state visit to the UK by Charles.
Speaking on The Sun’s Royal Exclusive Show, Newsweek’s Chief Royal Correspondent Jack Royston said: “King Charles has been in such a difficult position because he’s been walking this diplomatic tightrope where Keir Starmer has walked into the Oval Office and sat down with Trump and said, here’s an invite from King Charles.
“It’s such a privilege for you to be invited for this second historic state visit.
“And Canada is sitting back watching, thinking, well hold on a minute – he is threatening to annex us at the moment.
“So this is probably, I think, the most complex and fraught diplomatic ball that Charles has ever had to play.”
The King will be the first monarch since his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, to open a session of the Canadian parliament, when he does so on May 27.
He will be joined by Canadian PM, and former Bank of England governor, Mark Carney, who has been steadfast in emphasising the independence of Canada.
However, things could become difficult, Jack explained, as Charles has to avoid directly referencing Trump, but also standby Canada’s independence, especially since he still serves as its head of state.
Jack said: “He [King Charles] can’t just pull the gloves off and start directly referencing Trump because, you know, he would get in trouble.
“But there might be something sewn in there about the importance of Canada’s history and its own identity as its own unique country.
“Despite the fact that Mark Carney did say in a recent interview that Canadians were a bit upset about the invite for Trump, Charles remains Canada’s secret weapon in this battle that it’s in with Trump.
“Because if Trump were to go completely bonkers and send the army into Canada, he would be taking a country that counts Charles as head of state.”
Charles was previously reported to be “concerned” about the growing discord between the US and Canada.
In March, the monarch held a meeting with then Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, after the Commonwealth leader faced pressure from the US.
Then, ahead of Carney’s victory in last month’s election, Trump ramped up his threats to make Canada his “cherished 51st US state”.
But, following this win, which saw Carney’s Liberal Party fall two seats short of a majority, the two leaders amicably met in the Oval Office to discuss trade and Trump’s threats.
In the crucial meeting at the start of this month, Trump joked “never say never” to the country becoming the 51st state of the US, despite Carney insisting that Canada was “not for sale”.
Tensions had begun after Trump targeted Canada and Mexico with a 25 per cent on imports from both countries in February, alongside a 10 per cent levy on Canadian energy.
In response, Canada slapped a 25 per cent tariff on some vehicles imported from the US on April 9.
King Charles to make ‘secret offer’ to Donald Trump during State visit – after Starmer hand-delivered letter from King
The Royal proposal is said to potentially reduce tensions between the White House and Canada.
Plans are allegedly in the works to make the USA the next “associate member” of the Commonwealth.
The international association, which currently boasts 56 states, could welcome the US as a new member.
In February, a Tariff war began between the US and Canada, with Trump signing orders to impose near-universal tariffs on goods from Canada entering the United States.
The US President revealed Canada could avoid higher taxes if it joined the United States of America as its 51st state.
Canada, of which the King is head of state, is part of the Commonwealth of Nations – and including America in the group may dampen the current conflict.
Suggestions for the US to join the Commonwealth were first made during Trump’s first stint in the White House by the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) with the blessing of Queen Elizabeth II.
Now in his second term of office, the proposal has been brought back, with members of the society crossing their fingers for the King to extend an invitation to Trump upon their next meeting.