US President Donald Trump has stated that next week’s state visit from King Charles III and Queen Camilla could significantly help in repairing relations with the UK.
When asked in a phone interview with the BBC if the visit could mend the relationship, Trump responded: “Absolutely. He’s fantastic. He’s a fantastic man. Absolutely the answer is yes.” He added, “I know him well, I’ve known him for years. He’s a brave man, and he’s a great man. They would absolutely be a positive.”
Royal Visit Details and Meetings
The King and Queen are scheduled to travel to the US for a four-day visit commencing on Monday. During their visit, they will meet with President Trump at the White House. The King will have a private meeting with the president and is also expected to deliver an address to Congress.
After two days in Washington DC, the royal couple will proceed to New York, Virginia, and Bermuda before returning to the UK. The Foreign Office has indicated that the trip will commemorate the 250th anniversary of US independence, celebrating a partnership built on “shared prosperity, security, and history.”
Trump’s Views on UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer
In the five-minute interview on Thursday, Trump also discussed his relationship with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Trump suggested that Starmer could only “recover” if he altered his stance on immigration.
The two leaders have reportedly been at odds over geopolitical developments concerning Iran, and the prime minister has faced increasing pressure regarding his decision to appoint Lord Mandelson as UK ambassador to the US. In a post on Truth Social, Trump called Lord Mandelson “a really bad pick” but noted the prime minister had “plenty of time to recover.”
Clarifying his post, Trump stated: “If he opened the North Sea and if his immigration policies became strong, which right now they’re not, he can recover, but if he doesn’t, I don’t think he has a chance.” Trump has consistently urged the UK to enhance oil and gas extraction in the North Sea.
Sir Keir Starmer, responding to the president’s comments, said: “I make my decisions based on what’s in the British national interest and not what other people say or do. That is why I took the decision that we would not be dragged into the situation concerning Iran. I’m not going to be diverted or deflected from that by what anybody else says.”
Comments on International Relations and Iran
Trump has also voiced criticism of the UK government and other allies regarding their response to the situation involving Iran. He expressed being “not happy” with the level of support provided by the UK, while Sir Keir has repeatedly affirmed that the country will not be drawn into a wider conflict.
When asked why he needed allies such as the UK to get involved, Trump told the BBC: “I didn’t need them at all but they should’ve been there. I didn’t need them, obviously.” He further claimed, “We’ve wiped Iran’s military out,” adding, “I didn’t need anybody.” Trump described his calls for support from allies as “more of a test.”
Trump was also questioned about his earlier threat, made this month, that “a whole civilisation will die tonight” unless Iran agreed to a deal, and whether it pertained to nuclear weapons. The comment drew widespread condemnation from figures including the Pope, the head of the UN, and Sir Keir. Trump responded: “The other side is dying to make a deal. So whatever I’m saying or whatever I’m doing, it seems to be working very well.”
BBC Defamation Lawsuit and UK Tariffs
Towards the end of the interview, President Trump referenced his multi-billion dollar defamation lawsuit against the BBC. He is suing over the editing of a Panorama documentary, which he claims misrepresented sections of a speech he delivered before the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. Trump warned the BBC to be “very careful” or risk “destroying” its reputation.
The BBC has previously apologized to Trump for the Panorama edit but rejected his demands for compensation, stating there is no basis for a defamation claim and has moved to dismiss the lawsuit. A BBC spokesperson affirmed, “We have said throughout we will robustly defend the case against us.”
Later on Thursday, Trump threatened to impose new tariffs on the UK if it did not withdraw its 2% digital services tax on large US technology firms. He told reporters in the Oval Office: “We’ve been looking at it and we can meet that very easily by just putting a big tariff on the UK, so they better be careful.”
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