Trump says King’s US visit could ‘absolutely’ repair UK relations
Donald Trump said a state visit by King Charles and Queen Camilla next week could “absolutely” repair relations with Britain, as his rift with Sir Keir Starmer escalates.
Relations between the UK prime minister and the US president have been tense in recent months; the president branded Britain’s approach to the Iran war “appalling” and repeatedly attacked Sir Keir; at one point he described him as “no Winston Churchill”.
It comes after the British prime minister repeatedly insisted Britain would not be “dragged” into conflict in the Middle East and insisted it was “not our war”.
Asked by the BBC whether the King’s upcoming state visit could help repair the damaged relationship, Trump said: “Absolutely. He’s great. He’s a great guy. The answer is definitely yes.”
“I know him well, I’ve known him for years,” he added. “He’s a brave man and a great guy. It would definitely be a positive.”
It comes after Sir Keir Starmer told the UK Parliament last week that the British monarchy was “an important reminder of the long-standing ties and enduring relationship between our two countries”, insisting that the special relationship was “much greater than anyone occupying a particular office at any given time”.
Trump’s comments will give Sir Keir a boost as there are hopes in Downing Street that Charles and Queen Camilla can help put UK-US relations on firmer footing.
This came just hours after a former NATO secretary-general warned that Britain’s military dependence on the US was “no longer tenable”, suggesting Britain should not expect relations with Washington to return to their previous status even after Trump leaves office.
In his second attack on the government’s defense policy in less than a fortnight, Lord George Robertson, also a former Labor defense minister, lashed out at Britain’s “naïve belief” that the US would “always be there” in times of crisis, saying such a mindset diminished the UK’s capabilities.
The state visit, which begins at the end of the month, will mark the 250th anniversary of America’s independence and herald the start of celebrations across the US, with Charles and Camilla marking the milestone at a “block party”.
Charles and Camilla will meet the president for the first time and the First Lady of the United States at a private tea recorded only by cameras.
Later, Trump and the King will hold talks in the famous Oval Office of the White House, while Camilla and Melania Trump will attend an event together.
But sources said the King and Queen will not meet survivors of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during their visit, despite reports that a private meeting was planned.
US congressman Ro Khanna and the family of Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre have repeatedly called for meetings with the King and Queen, and the Mail on Sunday reports that victims’ rights groups have approached the Queen.
