King Charles teases Trump with historical references during visit

During a state banquet at the White House, King Charles III delivered a light-hearted speech that included a series of playful jabs at US President Donald Trump.

The British monarch referred to comments Trump had made earlier this year at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Caliber.Az reports citing British media, where the US president stated that without American support, Europeans “would be speaking German, and maybe a little Japanese.”

"You recently commented, Mr. President, that if it were not for the United States, European countries would be speaking German. Dare I say that, if it wasn't for us, you'd be speaking French," King Charles joked.

The king described Trump’s second term as “historic” and said he was pleased to be “back in this wonderful building, the heart of your democracy.”

He then turned to Trump’s controversial ballroom project, quipping that he had noticed the president’s “readjustments to the East Wing.” He followed this with a historical reference, recalling Britain’s own “real estate redevelopment” of the White House in 1814, when British troops burned much of the capital during the War of 1812.

"I am sorry to say that we British, of course, made our own attempt at real estate redevelopment of the White House in 1814," he said.

The visit to Washington was intended to mark America’s 250th anniversary and celebrate enduring Anglo-American ties, even as relations between the two countries face some strain.

King Charles also gave an address to the US Congress, where he spoke about the “reconciliation and renewal” that he said have defined centuries of interaction between the two nations, a theme he returned to during the banquet.

His remarks included references to NATO and Ukraine, underscoring the importance of Western democracy, as well as a subtle nod to climate change—an issue Trump has previously dismissed as a “hoax.”

By Nazrin Sadigova