U.S. President Donald Trump and King Charles III greeted one another warmly on Tuesday because the monarch began a day of diplomacy in Washington designed to emphasise a bond between the UK and the USA that’s so strong it will probably withstand the political turmoil of the moment.
Under gray, drizzly skies, Trump welcomed Charles and Queen Camilla to the White House in a ceremony on the South Lawn, with the president quipping that it was a “beautiful British day.” The king shook hands with members of Trump’s Cabinet and joined the president for a rendition of the national anthem.
The royal visit comes at a difficult moment for U.S.-U.K. relations but is meant as a celebration of America’s 250th anniversary of independence from Britain. In his welcome remarks, Trump highlighted the shared history between the 2 countries and sought to attract a line from King John’s sealing of the Magna Carta in 1215 to the American Revolution.
“American patriots today can sing, ‘My country, ’tis of thee, sweet land of liberty,’ only because our colonial ancestors first sang, ‘God save the King,’” Trump said.
The 2 leaders huddled within the Oval Office for a gathering that was closed to the general public, reducing the potential for the freewheeling, sometimes controversial meetings with foreign officials which have grow to be routine during Trump’s second term. Afterward, Trump said it was a “really good meeting” and Charles is a “incredible person.”
Charles will later address the U.S. Congress, only the second monarch to accomplish that. His mother, Queen Elizabeth II, delivered an analogous speech in 1991 highlighting the historic ties between each countries and the importance of their democratic values, themes Charles will likely reinforce on Tuesday. Such addresses are a possibility afforded to only probably the most distinguished world leaders, including Pope Francis, Václav Havel and Winston Churchill.
King’s most extensive public remarks may come during congressional address
The congressional speech will likely mark the most costly public remarks Charles will deliver during his four-day visit to the U.S. He’s expected to deal with the Saturday shooting on the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in an indication of solidarity and support.
He can even acknowledge tensions which have surfaced between Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, noting that the 2 countries haven’t at all times agreed but have at all times found ways to return together.
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Trump’s up-and-down relationship with Starmer has taken a very sour turn over the past several months because the Republican president has sought to rally international support for the war in Iran. Trump criticized Starmer, who has largely resisted his overtures, by saying “this just isn’t Winston Churchill that we’re coping with.”
Trump has also imposed tariffs on the U.K. and warned of additional levies despite a Supreme Court ruling earlier this 12 months that has made such unilateral moves more difficult. Trump threatened just last week to slap a “big tariff” on the U.K. if it doesn’t scrap a digital services tax on U.S. technology firms.
Trump has more broadly challenged the normal trans-Atlantic alliance with efforts to annex Greenland and threats to walk away from NATO. He has repeatedly imposed tariffs on and taunted Canada, a member of the British Commonwealth.
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of Latest York blamed Republican policies on Monday for straining the U.S.-U.K. relationship.
“Hopefully, the king’s visit goes to go a good distance toward repairing the damage that this administration has done to one among our most significant allies on the earth,” Jeffries said.
Meanwhile, Charles has faced some calls on Capitol Hill to satisfy with victims of Jeffrey Epstein while he’s within the U.S. There’s no indication that he’ll accomplish that whilst the scandal involving the convicted sex offender has ensnared his brother, who was arrested in February over misconduct allegations, which he denies.
Rep. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat who has been a frontrunner of the push on Capitol Hill for a reckoning over Epstein, said he was told by the British ambassador to the U.S. that there could be an acknowledgment of the survivors throughout the congressional address.
Charles and Camilla arrived on the nation’s capital on Monday and held a tea with the president and first lady Melania Trump. The royal couple will proceed their U.S. trip later this week with stops in Latest York City and Virginia.
Associated Press writers Stephen Groves in Washington and Danica Kirka in London contributed to this report.
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