Donald Trump has claimed that King Charles “probably would have helped us” in Iran in another attack on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Nato.
Speaking as the King and Queen visited New York, the US president said the monarch was a “phenomenal representative for his country” and suggested he would have differed from the prime minister over the conflict. “The King loves his country, and he's a great king, and he's a great friend of mine. And I think if it were up to him, he would have probably helped us with Iran,” Mr Trump said.
Asked whether the King’s speech on the need for a strong Nato alliance had changed his mind, the president said he was disappointed in Nato after the US “asked them to do some things about Ukraine and Iran”. Praising the King as “fantastic”, he added: “He would have followed the suggestions we made with respect to Ukraine.”
The remarks breached protocol by claiming to know the monarch’s views. Mr Trump has previously said the King agreed Iran should not have a nuclear weapon. The president has repeatedly condemned Nato allies for relying on the US for funding and pressured Ukraine to cede land to end the war with Russia.
In contrast to his attacks on Nato, Mr Trump has been unwavering in his flattery of Britain’s royal family. This is the second time he has claimed the King would have acted differently from the prime minister over Iran.
