King Charles III of the United Kingdom called this Tuesday for reconciliation between his country and the United States amid tensions between the Labor Government of Keir Starmer and the Administration of Donald Trump, during a historic speech on Capitol Hill on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of American independence.
The intervention, lasting less than half an hour and delivered before both Chambers of Congress, is one of the central events of the state visit of Charles III and Queen Camilla, the first that the royal couple has made to the United States since their coronation.
The trip takes place at a time when the relationship between Washington and London, one of the strongest in the last century, is going through one of its lowest levels due to Trump’s constant criticism of Starmer, especially for his refusal to become militarily involved in the Iran war initiated by the United States.
reconciliation message
Trump was not in Congress, but, under the gaze of Vice President JD Vance, the British monarch did not avoid thorny issues and stressed the importance of maintaining the alliance between Washington and London, which, he said, is “one of the most transcendental in human history.”
The king stressed that both countries share “a history of reconciliation, renewal and an extraordinary partnership”, during a speech that is the first given by a British monarch since that of Elizabeth II in 1991.
At that time, Charles III’s mother praised the close relationship between both countries after the United Kingdom supported the United States in the Gulf War.
The current situation is different, but the monarch gave a message of unity: “I pray with all my heart that our alliance continues to defend our shared values, together with our partners in Europe, the Commonwealth and around the world, and that we ignore calls for isolation.”
He also broke a spear in favor of NATO, an organization that Trump has threatened to leave after not intervening in the Strait of Hormuz.
“NATO is committed to mutual defense,” he stated, recalling that the Alliance activated Article 5 for the first time after the attacks of September 11, 2001.
Likewise, he urged the United States to maintain support for Ukraine against Russia, at a time when this conflict is no longer making headlines.
The speech was written by the British Government and not by Buckingham Palace, although Charles III set his own tone, with several comments of British humor.
The Capitol was protected by a reinforced security device, a few days after the assassination attempt against Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, an event that Charles III firmly condemned: “These violent acts will never succeed.”
Does Trump reduce tension?
Trump, a lover of the British monarchy, also seemed willing to reduce tensions by receiving the kings with the first lady, Melania, in the morning with a pompous ceremony of honor in the gardens of the White House, with cannon salutes and the flyover of fighter jets.
Before a gray sky that threatened rain, Trump joked about the “beautiful British day”, assured that the English are the “closest friends” of the Americans and, about Charles III, whom he described as a “very elegant man”, he even stated that his mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, “was in love” with the monarch.
The day, which will conclude with a gala dinner at the White House, was marked by gestures of closeness and symbolism, both in the ceremony and in a subsequent exchange of gifts, including a replica of the plans for the Oval Office desk that the monarch gave to Trump.
The state visit hovers over the case of pedophile Jeffrey Epstein following the investigation into Prince Andrew, brother of Charles III. The kings, however, will not meet the victims during their trip.
King Charles III of the United Kingdom began his speech before the United States Congress on Tuesday with a condemnation of the assassination attempt against President Donald Trump last Saturday and noted that acts of violence against democracy “will never succeed.”
“We also gathered following the incident that occurred not far from this great building, which sought to attack the leadership of your nation and sow broader fear and discord. “Let me say with unwavering determination: such acts of violence will never succeed,” he declared from the rostrum in the Capitol, in a ceremony in which the vice president, JD Vance, was present, but not Trump.
