Trump thrills in ‘royal ties’ as he welcomes King to White House on historic day

Before the event, Trump enjoyed a British media report suggesting a royal connection for the president.

After an article in the Daily mail After tracing the US president’s Scottish ancestors and claiming he is related to the current monarch, Trump suggested he might continue to live in the house at the heart of the British royal family.

“I’ve always wanted to live in Buckingham Palace!!! I’ll talk to the King and Queen about it in a few minutes!!! President DJT”

Today, Charles will become the first British monarch to address the US Congress since his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in 1991. Her speech highlighted the two countries’ shared history and the importance of their democratic values, themes that Charles will likely want to reinforce.

Such speeches are an opportunity afforded only to the most prominent world leaders, including Pope Francis, Václav Havel and Winston Churchill.

It will likely be the most extensive public speech Charles will make during a four-day visit to the US intended to celebrate the 250th anniversary of independence from Britain.

House Speaker Mike Johnson became the first sitting leader of his chamber to address the British Parliament earlier this year. He attended a garden party with the king in Washington on Monday and said he told him he would be “well received” in Congress.

The king, accompanied by the queen, starts his day with a meeting with Trump at the White House. The meeting in the Oval Office offers opportunities for free-form, sometimes contentious meetings with foreign leaders that have become routine during Trump’s second term.

But it will be closed to the public, and given the explicitly apolitical nature of the British monarch and Trump’s fondness for the royal family, the chances of an awkward encounter may be less. Trump will receive Charles for a state banquet at the White House on Tuesday evening.

The visit comes at a challenging time for US-Britain relations. Trump’s up-and-down relationship with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has taken a particularly sour turn in recent months as the Republican president has tried to drum up international support for the war in Iran.

Trump criticized Starmer, who has largely resisted his overtures, saying “this is not Winston Churchill we’re dealing with.”

Trump has also imposed tariffs on Britain and warned of additional duties, despite a Supreme Court ruling earlier this year that has made such unilateral steps more challenging.

Trump last week threatened to impose a “major tariff” on Britain if it did not abolish the digital services tax for American technology companies.

Meanwhile, Charles has faced some calls on Capitol Hill to meet with Jeffrey Epstein’s victims while in the US.

There is no indication he will do so, even though the scandal surrounding the convicted sex offender has ensnared his brother, who was arrested in February on misconduct charges, which he denies.

Charles and Camilla arrived in the nation’s capital on Monday and had tea with the president and first lady Melania Trump. The royal couple will continue their US trip later this week with stops in New York City and Virginia.

– Reported by Associated Press.

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