King Charles III and Trump Enjoyed Their Play Date
What's going on: Yesterday morning, the White House X account announced, “THE BRITISH ARE COMING!” — Paul Revere-style. This was the first of many Revolutionary War references during King Charles III’s first state visit to the US as monarch to celebrate America’s 250th birthday (which even President Donald Trump called ironic). So far, the King’s trip has featured ceremonial cannonfire, awkward handshake snubs, jokes about the ballroom renovations, and some superb hats (Melania’s Carmen Sandiego alter-ego is back). In the King’s speech to Congress, he addressed climate change, the significance of the US-UK alliance, and the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Regrettably, he made no reference to Hamilton.But that’s not the only thing he omitted…
What's the (English Breakfast) tea?: With a message of “reconciliation and renewal,” King Charles did his best to tiptoe around political landmines — specifically, the Iran war. He didn’t mention it by name, but some analysts read between the lines of his comments about the war in Ukraine. Some background: After UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer blocked US strikes on Iran from British bases, Trump lashed out — taking aim at NATO and even the Falkland Islands, a British territory off Argentina. (There’s also the fact that the King’s brother and the president are both named in the Epstein files.) While King Charles’s role is mostly ceremonial, perhaps he used his royal charm to get Trump to see their perspective (after all, the president seems to be fascinated by the royals, and apparently… so was his mother).
