King Charles to address Congress as U.S.-British ties face rare strain
WASHINGTON— King Charles III will address a joint session of Congress on Tuesday, becoming the second British monarch in history to do so as the United States marks the 250th anniversary of its independence from Britain.
The king’s speech, the highlight of his four-day state visit, came at a time of unusual tension between Washington and London. President Trump has repeatedly clashed with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer over the United States’ war with Iran, mocking the British government’s refusal to send forces to the conflict and even deriding the Royal Navy’s warships as “toys.”
At the welcome ceremony held for the king and Queen Camilla at the White House, Trump struck a more appreciative tone, describing the relationship between the two countries as a centuries-old “precious bond.”
“Long before Americans had a nation or a Constitution, we had a culture, a character, and a creed,” the president said. “Before we declared our independence, Americans carried within us the rarest of gifts—moral courage—and it came from a small but mighty kingdom across the sea.”
Trump argued that while some may think it “ironic” to honor the British king during celebrations of American independence, paying tribute “couldn’t be more appropriate.”
“Americans have never had closer friends than the British,” Trump said. “We share the same roots. We speak the same language. We have the same values. And together, our warriors defended the same extraordinary civilization under twin flags of red, white and blue.”
Trump said he would not attend the king’s remarks at the Capitol due to security protocols but planned to watch remotely. He did not elaborate on any security concerns, but the decision followed the shooting at a White House correspondents’ dinner in which officials said Trump was a possible target.
After the welcoming ceremony, the king held a closed-door bilateral meeting with Trump in the Oval Office.
It appeared that the President was pleased with the visit. She told the crowd at the White House that her late mother “loved” the royal family and watched their events on television. The president even joked that his mother had a “crush” on the king when he was younger.
“I wonder what you’re thinking right now,” he said.
In the early hours of the day, Trump posted on Truth Social It appeared that he was planning to prepare a media report with the king and queen, suggesting that his family roots might be tied to the royal family, and that he found this possibility amusing.
“I always wanted to live in Buckingham Palace!!!” The President said the following in his message.
The King is scheduled to address Congress at 3pm EDT. He is expected to make prepared remarks about the two countries’ shared history and enduring diplomatic ties, as well as a measured acknowledgment of the tensions that define the current moment.
The only other example of a British monarch giving a speech was 35 years ago when Queen Elizabeth II gave a speech. It was in 1991 that Elizabeth addressed a joint session of Congress. The timing of his speech was after the end of the Gulf War.
It remains to be seen how the king will deal with current geopolitical tensions, including the Iran war and Trump’s threats to leave the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
But the shadow of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal looms over the king’s visit.
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Fremont), one of the most vocal lawmakers pushing for the release of the Epstein files, requested last month that the king meet privately with some of the women who were sexually abused by the late financier.
The request was made in a letter sent to Buckingham Palace. Khanna noted in the article that the Epstein scandal extends to Britain, where the king’s brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, has been linked to alleged misconduct.
In February, former Prince Andrew was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office over his links to Epstein; This marks the first time in nearly four centuries that a senior British royal has been caught red-handed.
But the king refused to meet the survivors directly, Khanna He said in an MS NOW interview on Tuesday morning:. The California Democrat said he expects the king to address the issue in his speech to Congress.
