In his 28-minute speech to the US Congress, he left sharp points for the administration, without explicitly naming the US President, nor any other political leader. He emphasized the importance of Western unity in the face of geopolitical challenges such as the war in Ukraine and praised the common heritage shared by Britons and Americans based on democracy and executive control. The latter was seen as an allusion to Trump’s personal power, while the British monarch simultaneously urged the American legislature to reflect on the problems of the entire planet. Charles underlined the timeliness of NATO’s role also in the case of Ukraine in the same way that the Americans had invoked it after the attacks of 11her September. He also underlined the value of the independence of the judiciary, as well as diversity in societies.
Charles on the “collapse of natural systems”
If the cultural and racial diversity is the wealth and strength of democratic societies, then the extroversion towards the protection of the natural environment is a criterion for their sustainability. Charles spoke of the “collapse of critical natural systems”, indirectly criticizing Donald Trump’s anti-environmental policy. These values put forward by King Charles are obviously at the opposite of the commercial and now also military voluntarism of Donald Trump, who, moreover, often seeks an understanding with Russia, without this meaning a sustainable peace.
«Two kings» versus «No kings»
At the same time, the abstract character of Charles’ speech allowed it to be interpreted as a conciliatory gesture, while the White House spoke of “two kings”, mocking the anti-Trump “No Kings” movement. The British monarch emphasized that the special relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom is strengthened through disagreement, just as democracy is strengthened by the separation of powers.
The remarks drew cheers from Democrats as well as Republicans. Charles did not mention Iran, nor the second “special relationship” that the US has, the one with Israel. He also did not explicitly name the immigration issue and the climate crisis, although he made oblique references to these issues, through the diversity of societies and the need to reverse the collapse of natural systems.
“The wounds that became friendship”
The American President, for his part, showed respect to the British monarch despite the indirect criticism he received, in a style completely different from the one he has shown to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, due to the latter’s refusal to help decisively in the US war against Iran.
In his own speech at the White House, the American President emphasized that the Americans have the same roots and values as the British, with whom they also share the same language, while they often fought under the same banners. He also spoke of the Anglo-Saxon courage of the rebels of 1776, but also of the settlement of the British in a wild and untamed continent, of the English faith and of the sense of the good and the true which sustained them.
On a more personal note, Donald Trump recalled his mother, who was born in the Hebrides and had great respect for Britain’s royal family, as well as a soft spot for Charles himself. “What would the Fathers of the Nation have said if they had known that the descendant of George III would be visiting the White House?”, asked Donald Trump, to answer the rhetorical question himself: “They may have experienced absolute shock, but only for a moment. Surely they would be very pleased that the wounds of war were healed by developing into the most precious friendship.’
President Trump presented Charles with a 1785 letter in which John Adams wrote to John Jay about his experience meeting George III while serving as US ambassador. Melania Trump in an ecological move in line with the royal couple’s concerns presented Camilla with honey from the White House beehives.
