President Trump has been eagerly anticipating the state visit of King Charles III and Queen Camilla to the White House this week, repeatedly praising the king as “a great gentleman,” “tough,” “a great guy,” “a nice guy” and “a friend of mine.” The four-day visit, timed as part of events marking the 250th anniversary of American independence from Britain, proceeded largely as planned after a Saturday-night shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner prompted a last-minute security review.
But the trip takes place against a backdrop of notable political friction between Washington and London, centered chiefly on the war in Iran. Trump has publicly criticized the UK for not joining the U.S. and Israel more fully in the conflict, at times mocking and insulting Prime Minister Keir Starmer for declining to provide military support. “When we asked them for help, they were not there. When we needed them, they were not there. When we didn’t need them, they were not there. And they still aren’t there,” Trump told Sky News.
The United Kingdom has allowed U.S. use of bases for operations related to Iran, but Starmer has stressed “this is not our war” and said he is “fed up” with its effects on Britain. Other disputes include London’s plan to cede the Chagos Islands to Mauritius—a move that affects a U.S. air base on one island—drawing criticism from Trump, who has disparaged Starmer by saying, “This is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with.” Trump has also pushed the UK to permit new North Sea oil and gas drilling, and last week threatened tariffs on British goods in retaliation for a UK digital services tax on tech companies.
Though the monarchs must remain politically neutral and will not directly negotiate policy, the British monarchy remains a pillar of the UK’s soft power—something Trump appears receptive to. His mother’s Scottish roots and his past warm remarks about Queen Elizabeth II help explain his affinity for the royals. In Washington, King Charles will address a joint session of Congress, becoming only the second British monarch to do so. When Queen Elizabeth II spoke to Congress in 1991, she emphasized democracy, international cooperation and organizations like the U.N. and NATO while praising U.S.-UK cooperation in the Gulf War.
This visit is set against different circumstances: a U.S. president who frequently criticizes allies and NATO, and a UK that has declined deeper military involvement in the Iran conflict. The palace says King Charles’s address will touch on issues including NATO and will aim to renew ties between the two countries, even as significant policy disagreements remain.