Donald Trump says US has ‘no closer friend’ than Britain
Washington: Donald Trump met with King George III on the first full day of his visit to the United States. As he officially welcomed Charles and Queen Camilla to the White House, he spoke glowingly of the special relationship between “the two most exceptional countries the world has ever known”.
While praising Charles for his thoughtfulness and public service, the US president said America had “no closer friends than the British”, citing their shared history, language and values.
“His Majesty’s intelligence, passion and dedication have long been a blessing to the British people—not only to his own country, but to the precious bond between the United States and the United Kingdom,” Trump said. “I’m sure it will continue like this in the future.”
After the brief exchange and a lavish welcome ceremony on the wet south lawn of the White House, the two men sat down for a bilateral meeting. Charles would then travel the short distance to Capitol Hill to become the second British monarch and first king to address a joint session of Congress.
The royal visit comes at a sensitive time for US-UK relations after Trump turned against British Prime Minister Keir Starmer over his reluctance to join the war against Iran.
Shortly before the welcoming ceremony, potential explosive report inside Financial Times British Ambassador to the USA, Christian Turner, sitting in the front row, told a group of British students that Israel was actually the country with which the USA had special relations.
“I think there’s one country that has a special relationship with the United States, and that’s probably Israel,” Turner told students in February, according to a recording obtained by the newspaper.
He also said it was “remarkable” that the Jeffrey Epstein scandal did not have more consequences in the US compared to the UK, where it ousted his predecessor as ambassador, Peter Mandelson, and seriously damaged Starmer, who appointed Mandelson.
According to Buckingham Palace officials, the King will touch on US-UK relations in his speech to Congress and is also expected to touch on NATO and the US-UK-Australia alliance. The King had previously expressed the importance of AUKUS during Trump’s state visit to the UK last year.
The royal family were greeted with British weather on the first day of their US trip, as light rain fell during the official congratulations ceremony at the White House.
Dignitaries seated on either side of the lawn carried umbrellas, and the president’s Marine Band played for about 20 minutes before the Trumps emerged from the South Portico to greet Charles and Camilla, who arrived from Blair House in a black BMW shortly before 11 a.m.
Charles then shook hands with US officials in the front row – Vice President J.D. Vance, cabinet secretaries Marco Rubio, Scott Bessent, Pete Hegseth, Howard Lutnick and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles – while Trump shook hands with Britons, including Secretary of State Yvette Cooper and ambassador Turner.
national anthems God Save the Queen And Banner decorated with stars It was played under cannon fire before Trump led Charles through the military guard of honour. After returning to the podium, Trump stood awkwardly behind the podium for several minutes until the band finished playing.
“What a beautiful British day this is,” he began, to laughter from the large crowd gathered on the lawn. “And indeed it is.”
Although Trump’s speech focused on the two countries’ enduring bond, he did mention his late mother, Mary MacLeod, Queen Elizabeth II. It also included some moments of levity, including him talking about his admiration for Elizabeth and her eldest son, Charles.
Trump described watching royal ceremonies when he was much younger: “My mother would be glued to the TV and say, ‘Look, Donald, look how beautiful this is.'”
“I also remember her saying very clearly, ‘Young Charles, he’s so sweet.’ My mother was in love with Charles. Can you believe that?”
Trump also told the King that his eagerly awaited speech to the US Congress would “make everyone jealous of your beautiful accent”.
After the ceremony, the four walked up the steps of the South Portico, where Trump and Charles stood on the balcony and chatted as they waited for four F-35 fighter jets to pass over the military base. Camilla and First Lady Melania Trump stood by their spouses.
The First Lady wore a white silk and wool coat and shirt from the Ralph Lauren Collection, an Eric Javits straw hat and Manolo Blahnik heels. Camilla wore a pale green coat dress with a matching hat, adorned with a Cullinan V Diamond brooch.
As an official gift, the king will give the president a framed copy of the 1879 design plans for the Resolute Table in the White House, the originals of which are kept in London’s National Maritime Museum.
Meanwhile, the president gave the king a special copy of a letter written by John Adams, the first US ambassador to England, to the American statesman John Jay in 1785.
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Michael Koziol is the North America correspondent for The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald. He is a former Sydney editor, Sun-Herald deputy editor and a federal political correspondent in Canberra.Connect with: X or email.
