President Donald Trump, known for his fondness for gold, received a different kind of precious gift from King Charles III on Tuesday: a polished brass bell from a Second World War-era British submarine. The king presented the relic during a state dinner at the White House, capping off his two-day visit to Washington.
In a lighthearted toast, Charles joked that the bell would 'stand as a testimony to our nation's shared history and shining future,' adding, 'And should you ever need to get hold of us, just give us a ring.' He also acknowledged the construction of Trump's controversial $400 million ballroom, quipping that the British had 'made our own small attempt at real estate redevelopment of the White House' when troops set it ablaze in 1814.
The king’s visit came amid tensions between the UK Labour government and the Trump administration over the US-Israeli bombing campaign against Iran. Charles turned this into humour, referencing Trump's comment that Europe would be speaking German without US help, retorting, 'Dare I say that if it wasn't for us, you'd be speaking French.' He also acknowledged America's role in rebuilding Europe after the war.
Trump praised Charles's earlier address to Congress as 'fantastic,' noting he got Democrats to stand—something Trump said he had never achieved. He also claimed the monarch agreed that Iran must not have a nuclear weapon, saying, 'Charles agrees with me even more than I do.'
Earlier in the day, Charles had used his historic speech to Congress to subtly rebuke Trump's ambitions, hailing the 'separation of powers' that prevented the US from acquiring another king. Both Democrats and Republicans applauded the remark.
