dailyloe.com – King Charles III delivered a speech to the US Congress focused on the “special relationship” between the United States and the United Kingdom. The speech occurred amid rising tensions between the nations’ leaders, particularly between US President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
President Trump did not attend the king’s speech due to protocol but expressed a desire to watch remotely. He stated, “I was thinking of going but they said, ‘I don’t know. That might be a step too far.'” The king’s speech was crafted with careful consideration of Trump’s perspective.
The king emphasized the importance of global cooperation and the NATO alliance, which has faced criticism from the Trump administration. He remarked on the resilience of the US-UK partnership, saying it was “born out of dispute, but no less strong for it.”
In his speech, King Charles referenced America’s declaration of independence from Britain in 1776. He stated, “We can perhaps agree that we do not always agree, at least in the first instance.” He highlighted the principle of “no taxation without representation” as a shared democratic value.
The king noted that the ability to find common ground leads to significant change for both nations and their peoples. He remarked, “And by Jove, Mr Speaker, when we have found that way to agree, what great change is brought about, not just for the benefit of our peoples, but of all peoples.”
Earlier, President Trump echoed similar sentiments, reflecting on the historical ties between the two nations. He suggested that US founding fathers like John Adams and George Washington “might be absolutely shocked” to see a king addressing Congress.
