Trump saw
2 kings, Charles saw something much different
In only
the second such address by a sitting British monarch, Charles called for
“unyielding resolve” in defense of Ukraine and discussed the Magna Carta, which
declared that even kings must obey the law.
By Alex
Gangitano
04/28/2026
06:57 PM EDT
King
Charles III on Tuesday stood before a joint session of Congress and delivered
among the most pointed comments any allied leader has given on American soil
during President Donald Trump’s second term.
Charles
invoked NATO’s Article 5 response to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, a
direct rebuke to Trump’s regular needling of NATO allies as not doing enough
for the United States. He called for “unyielding resolve” in defense of Ukraine
and pointed to the establishment of the Magna Carta in 1215, which declared
that even a king isn’t above the law.
“In the
immediate aftermath of 9/11, when NATO invoked Article 5 for the first time …
we answered the call together, as our people have done so for more than a
century, shoulder to shoulder,” the king said.
The
speech, much like the four-day trip, was meant to be an explicit reminder of
the “special relationship” between the two countries and an implicit rebuke of
an administration that has dismissed the transatlantic alliance as a necessity
of a bygone era.
Charles’
words – including an exhortation of respect for what he called “this citadel of
democracy” – were delivered amid the ceremonial platform of a state visit Trump
has filled with pageantry: honor guards, a flyover by military jets, elaborate
gift exchanges and a black tie dinner.
The king
and queen will travel to New York on Wednesday to visit the 9/11 memorial in
lower Manhattan for a wreath laying, which New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani and
former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg are expected to join.
Beyond
the shade, Charles also praised the relationship between the two countries, and
unequivocally condemned Saturday’s shooting attack at a journalism gala, saying
“such acts of violence will never succeed.”
Trump
noted in his remarks the irony of honoring the British king to mark the 250th
anniversary of the United States, but claimed, “American patriots today can
sing ‘my country ‘tis of thee, great land of liberty’ because our colonial
ancestors first sang ‘God Save the King.’” He called the U.K. the closest
friend to the U.S. and praised the militaries for fighting together. On the
White House X account appeared a photograph of Trump and the king laughing
together with the caption, “TWO KINGS,” mocking critics who refer to him as a
wannabe monarch in the widespread “No Kings” rallies across the country.
He also
said he would be watching the king’s address – only the second such time a
sitting British monarch has addressed a joint session of Congress.
In that
address, the king made clear he did not forget Trump’s suggestion earlier this
year that allied forces stayed “a little off the front lines” in the war in
Afghanistan, receiving sharp criticism for it from British Prime Minister Keir
Starmer and other NATO allies.
Charles
also directly quoted Starmer, who has clashed with Trump in recent months over
the U.K.’s refusal to provide full military support for the U.S. and Israeli
operation against Iran. Trump has also taken aim at the UK for not acting to
help the U.S. military reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
“As my
prime minister said last month, ours is an indispensable partnership. We must
not disregard everything that has sustained us for the last 80 years. Instead,
we must build on it,” the king said.
And he
nodded to the impacts of climate change, saying the world must “address the
collapse of critical natural systems, which threatens far more than the harmony
and essential diversity of nature.”
Ahead of
Charles’ trip to Congress, Trump came out of their private meeting— during
which gifts were exchanged to mark the centuries-old relationship— declaring
“it was a really good meeting” and calling Charles “fantastic” and suggesting
it was a “real honor” to meet with him.
He rolled
out pomp and circumstance for the king and queen’s arrival, including honor
guards from various branches of the U.S. military and an F-35 flyover while
Trump and Charles, and their wives, watched from the balcony.
Later
Tuesday, the two leaders will attend a black tie state dinner with 100 other
guests.
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