President Donald Trump humorously remarked that King Charles III achieved something he himself has never been able to do: earn a standing ovation from Congressional Democrats. The comment came during a state dinner at the White House on Tuesday evening, hours after the King delivered a historic address to a joint session of Congress.
King Charles Addresses Congress
Speaking for approximately 20 minutes, King Charles marked the 250th anniversary of American independence from Britain, expressing gratitude that the two nations had united to forge what he described as 'one of the most consequential alliances in human history.' He became only the second British monarch to address Congress, following his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
The King received a four-minute standing ovation upon entering the chamber, even before speaking, and another round of applause as he rose to deliver his speech. His address was met with further applause and laughter from lawmakers.
Trump's Lighthearted Jab
At the state dinner, Trump welcomed the King and Queen Camilla, praising the monarch's speech before quipping, 'He got the Democrats to stand. I've never been able to do that.' He added, 'I can't believe it! They liked him more than they've ever liked any Republican... or Democrat, actually!' Trump then returned to complimenting the King, acknowledging the difficulty of addressing Congress: 'That's a tough place.'
Warnings and Nuanced Messages
Despite the unifying tone, King Charles delivered nuanced warnings, urging continued collaboration and global engagement. He emphasized that the alliance between the US and UK 'cannot rest on past achievements,' called for 'unyielding resolve' in supporting Ukraine against Russia, and praised NATO—an alliance Trump has often criticized. The King also highlighted religious pluralism and interfaith dialogue, and encouraged leaders to 'reflect on our shared responsibility to safeguard nature,' a subtle reference to climate change, as the White House rolls back environmental regulations.
Charles traced the concept of checks and balances to the Magna Carta, a foundational document sealed by King John in 1215. This came after Trump told The New York Times earlier this year that he was constrained only by 'my own morality.' The King also subtly alluded to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, which has affected both US and UK politics, including ties to the King's brother, Prince Andrew.
State Dinner and Meetings
Earlier Tuesday, Charles and Camilla had a warm welcome at the White House by President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump. The leaders met privately in the Oval Office, a meeting Trump described as 'really good,' calling Charles a 'fantastic person.' The state dinner hosted about 130 guests, including tech leaders like outgoing Apple CEO Tim Cook and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, conservative Supreme Court justices, and several Fox News journalists and hosts.
Charles and Camilla will continue their US tour with stops in New York City and Virginia. The King acknowledged that today's world is 'more volatile and more dangerous' than when his mother spoke to Congress in 1991, and he condemned recent acts of violence, including an attempted assassination against Trump.
US-UK Relations
Trump's relationship with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has soured, with Trump criticizing Starmer's resistance to supporting the war in Iran, saying, 'This is not Winston Churchill that we're dealing with.' Trump has also imposed tariffs on the UK and threatened additional levies, including a 'big tariff' if the UK does not scrap a digital services tax on US technology companies.
