King Charles on Wednesday praised President Trump for his peace efforts at the United Kingdom state dinner, highlighting that the president is committed to finding solutions to global conflicts.
“Our countries are working together in support of crucial diplomatic efforts, not least of which, Mr. President, is your own personal commitment to finding solutions to some of the world’s most intractable conflicts in order to secure peace,” the king said.
He also said that the U.S. and U.K. are standing together to support Ukraine amid the war with Russia, acknowledging the other allies they are working with.
“Our countries have the closest defense, security and intelligence relationship every known. In two world wars, we fought together to defeat the forces of tyranny,” he said. “Today, as tyranny once again threatens Europe, we and our allies stand together in support of Ukraine to deter aggression and secure peace.”
The president and king were seated next to each other at a 155-foot-long table at St. George’s Hall, which also included U.S. officials like Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and top business leaders like media mogul Rupert Murdoch and Apple CEO Tim Cook.
The king praised the U.S.-U.K. trade deal as the second Trump administration’s first agreement on tariffs and quipped about the longtime close relationship, referencing his 1970 visit to the U.S. and being photographed with former President Nixon’s daughter, Tricia.
“Had the media succeeded in the 1970s in their own attempt at deepening the special relationship, I myself might have been married off within the Nixon family,” he said to laughter in the room.
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Additionally, the king spoke about the “bond” between the two nations and how far they had come as the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence nears.
“I cannot help but wonder what our forebears from 1776 would make of this friendship today,” the king said. “We celebrate a relationship between our two countries that surely neither [George] Washington nor King George III could possibly have imagined. The ocean may still divide us, but in so many other ways we are now the closest of kin.”
The president spoke after the king and hailed the special relationship between the U.S. and the U.K., noting that he was on his second state visit to the country.
“The word special does not begin to do it justice. We’re joined by history and faith, by love and language and by transcendent ties of culture, tradition, ancestry and destiny. We’re like two notes in one chord or two verses in the same poem. Each beautiful on its own but really meant to be played together,” Trump said.
“Together we’ve done more good for humanity than any two countries in all of history. Together we must defend the exceptional heritage that makes us who we are, and we must continue to stand for the values and the people of the English-speaking world,” he added.
He made a toast to “one of the great friendships” and to the King, whom he called a “very, very special man.”
“This is truly one of the highest honors of my life, such respect for you and such respect for your country,” Trump said.
He also called Prince William “really amazing” and said Princess Kate, who is recovering from cancer, was looking “so radiant, so healthy and so beautiful.”
Trump on Thursday morning is expected to leave Windsor Castle and travel to the Chequers Estate for a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, followed by a press conference.
