King Charles III charms Trump during state visit to White House
On Monday, during his state visit to Washington, King Charles III opted for a handshake instead of a bow when meeting President Donald Trump. The following day, he addressed Congress with a speech that highlighted the significance of constitutional checks and NATO, which Trump lauded as "a great speech." At a state dinner, Charles humorously referenced the British firebombing of the White House in 1814, adding that Trump "would be speaking French" without the English. Trump controversially stated that Charles concurred with him on limiting Iran's nuclear ambitions. This visit occurs against the backdrop of strained US-Europe relations since Trump assumed office in January 2025, marked by his actions regarding Ukraine and NATO allies. While Trump seems to hold the British monarchy in high regard, his calls for unwavering loyalty imply that this diplomatic warming may be fleeting.
Key facts
- King Charles III visited the White House on Monday for a state visit.
- Trump greeted Charles with a handshake, not a bow.
- Charles gave a speech to Congress on Tuesday referencing constitutional checks and NATO.
- Trump called the speech 'a great speech.'
- At a state dinner, Charles joked about the 1814 firebombing of the White House.
- Trump claimed Charles agreed with him on curtailing Iran's nuclear ambitions.
- US-Europe relations have deteriorated since Trump took office in January 2025.
- Previous European leaders like Starmer and Macron also had warm receptions that later soured.
Entities
Institutions
- White House
- US Congress
- NATO
- Monocle
Locations
- Washington, D.C.
- United States
- United Kingdom
- Greenland
- Iran
- Falkland Islands
- Europe
Sources
- Monocle —