Donald Trump has once again called King Charles a “great gentleman” and insists his criticism of the UK governement will not have an impact on the monarch’s US state visit this month
Donald Trump has gushed over King Charles again and insisted his rocky relationship with PM Keir Starmer won’t have an impact on the monarch’s upcoming US state visit.
The US president has repeatedly hit out at the Prime Minister, accusing him of making “tragic” mistakes on winding down drilling in the North Sea and on migration, and suggested the terms of the UK-US trade deal brokered last year could be changed.
Charles and Queen Camilla ’s four-day trip to the US at the end of the month comes amid a worsening transatlantic relationship, after verbal attacks by Trump on the UK and other Nato allies for not joining his war in Iran.
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The historic visit between April 27 and 30 – the King’s first visit to the US as monarch – will mark the 250th anniversary of American independence and herald the start of celebrations across the US. Speaking to Sky News only hours after Buckingham Palace released details of the King’s US itinerary, Trump described Charles as a “great gentleman”.
“I’ve known him for a long time. He’s wonderful, wonderful person,” the US president added, according to the broadcaster. Trump insisted his strained relationship with Sir Keir would “not at all” overshadow the royal visit.
He then began to criticise Starmer, telling the broadcaster that while he liked the Prime Minister, he had made a “tragic mistake in closing the North Sea oil”, as well as “a tragic mistake on immigration”. Asked for his thoughts on the special relationship, Mr Trump replied: “With who?”
Sky then clarified they meant with the UK, to which the president reiterated his disappointment that Britain and other Nato allies had not joined the war with Iran “when we needed them”.
He then said that America had given the UK “a good trade deal, better than I had to”. In what appeared to be a threat to the agreement with Britain, Mr Trump suggested the deal “can always be changed”.
His comments come just hours after the Palace released more details on what’s in store for the King when he travels to Washington later this month. As part of the tour the royals will also attend a traditional American Block Party, a public celebration, usually organised by neighbours, where a city street or residential block is closed to traffic.
The party in Virginia will see locals coming out to meet the royals and celebrate America’s 250th birthday. On the first day of the visit, the King and Queen will be welcomed in Washington informally by President Trump and the First Lady.
They will then attend a private tea and a Garden Party, before being welcomed to the US with a formal ceremony later in the programme at the White House, which will feature a ceremonial military review and a State Dinner in the evening. There will be no public meeting in the Oval Office.
On Tuesday (April 28), the King will address Congress, only the second time a British Monarch has addressed a joint meeting, following Queen Elizabeth II’s speech at the Capitol during a State Visit to the United States, in 1991.
In New York on Wednesday, April 29, Charles and Camilla will go to the 9/11 memorial, in recognition of the 25th anniversary of the September 11th attacks later this year, as well as pay a visit to Harlem in the city.
In Virginia, the King and Queen will attend a traditional American Block Party – a public celebration, usually organised by neighbours, where a city street or residential block is closed to traffic.
After the US visit, the Queen will return to the UK while the King will travel to Bermuda, from May 1-2, marking his first visit as Sovereign to a British Overseas Territory.
The King will view a museum exhibition dedicated to the history of Bermuda, furthering his understanding of its connection to the Transatlantic Slave Trade. The King will also meet representatives from the UK Space Agency to hear about plans to install a new telescope site in Bermuda as part of global efforts to track space debris, supporting international space sustainability.