Trump Says Americans Have 'No Closer Friends Than the British' as Ice Thaws During Royal Visit
President Donald Trump championed the “special relationship” between the U.K. and U.S. as he hosted King Charles III and Queen Camilla at a White House ceremony on Tuesday.
“In the centuries since we won our independence, Americans have had no closer friends than the British,” said the President. “We share that same root, we speak the same language, we hold the same values, and together, our warriors have defended the same extraordinary civilization under twin banners of red, white, and blue.”
Trump directed much of his praise to Charles, insisting that while some may find irony in his choice to begin celebrations tied to America's 250 years of independence by honoring a British King, “no tribute could be more appropriate.”
“Before we ever proclaimed our independence, Americans carried within us the rarest of gifts [of] moral courage, and it came from a small but mighty Kingdom from across the sea,” the President said, paying tribute to the “noble spirit of the British.”
He referred to Charles as an “elegant” man and remembered the late Queen Elizabeth II as an “incredible woman.”
Trump did not make any direct mention of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who he has publicly rebuked several times for not actively joining the Iran war.
He did, however, reference Winston Churchill, who served as British Prime Minister throughout most of World War II.
“Prime Minister Winston Churchill and President Franklin Roosevelt famously met on a ship in the North Atlantic to outline a vision for the free world after World War II,” Trump recalled. “That understanding of our nation’s unique bond and role in history is the essence of our special relationship, and we hope it will always remain that way.”
In one of his recent criticisms of Starmer, Trump said: “He ruins relationships. We are very surprised. This is not Winston Churchill that we're dealing with.”
The U.K. and U.S. relationship has significantly splintered since the start of the Iran war, with Starmer saying earlier this month that he is “fed up” with people in the U.K. encountering economic instability due to the actions of Trump.
Trump’s repeated complaints about the U.K. prompted some British lawmakers to call for Charles’ state visit to be cancelled in the lead-up to him departing England.
But it appears tensions may be thawing, largely on account of Trump’s long-standing admiration for the royal family.
Prior to Charles’ arrival, Trump had indicated the state visit could well help repair the frayed relationship.
Read More: Revisiting Queen Elizabeth II’s Historic Address to Congress—and How It Sets the Stage for Charles
The importance of the U.K.-U.S. alliance remaining strong is set to be a central focus of King Charles’ speech when he addresses Congress on Tuesday afternoon.
“In a few hours, His Majesty will stand in the heart of the United States Capitol as the very first British king ever to address a joint session of the United States Congress,” Trump said at the ceremony, recognizing that only one other British Monarch—Charles’ mother, Elizabeth—has had the same honor.
“So he’s going to be addressing Congress, and I’m going to be watching. I was thinking of going, but they said, ‘I don’t know, that might be a step too far.’ I would love to go. It’s not supposed to be protocol, but I would love to be with you,” Trump added.