King Charles III used his historic address to the U.S. Congress to celebrate the constitutional framework that emerged from the American Revolution, drawing applause from both parties as he hailed the principle of checks and balances. Speaking before a joint meeting of Congress on the second day of his state visit to Washington, the King made no direct reference to President Donald Trump, but his remarks were widely interpreted as a subtle rebuke of the president's monarchical ambitions.
In his speech, the King noted that the "bitter divisions of 250 years ago" had evolved into a lasting friendship, and he praised the "Rule of Law" as a shared inheritance. He specifically cited the U.S. Supreme Court's more than 160 citations of the Magna Carta as "the foundation of the principle that executive power is subject to checks and balances," prompting the chamber to erupt in applause.
The King also referenced the colonial grievance of "taxation without representation," describing it as stemming from a "shared democratic value." He lauded the "bold and imaginative rebels" who carried forward the principles of the British Enlightenment, framing the American Revolution as an extension of a common heritage.
Turning to defence, the King called the United States "the heart" of NATO and announced what he described as "the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War." He stressed that American and British "defence, intelligence and security ties" remain "hardwired together," while acknowledging the challenges posed by melting Arctic ice-caps and shared adversaries.
The address came hours after a private meeting with President Trump at the White House, whose social media team had promoted the president as an "American King." The visit reciprocates a state visit to London by Trump last year and coincides with tensions over Trump's criticism of NATO and his recent military action against Iran.
