Donald Trump has said that King Charles’s upcoming state visit to Washington could “absolutely” repair relations between the United States and the United Kingdom, as the president offered effusive personal praise for the monarch while political tensions with Sir Keir Starmer remain deep.
Trump’s embrace of the King
In remarks to the BBC, the president called the King “fantastic” and “a great man”, adding: “He’s a brave man. They would absolutely be a positive.” Mr Trump said he had known the King for years and described him as a friend. In a video message released by the US Department of State, he said: “I look forward to having King Charles come. He’s a friend of mine. We’ve spoken and we’re going to have a great time.”
Mr Trump’s high regard for the King is personal. He has previously referred to Charles as a “fighter”, noting his resilience during his cancer battle, and has said he has a “really good relationship” with the monarch. The visit, which runs from 27 to 30 April, will be Charles’s first state visit to the US since becoming King, though he has visited the country 19 times before. It comes after Mr Trump made a state visit to the UK in September 2025, where he attended a state dinner hosted by Charles and Camilla at Windsor Castle.
Starmer’s defence of the special relationship
The president’s comments come against a backdrop of fractious exchanges with the prime minister. Mr Trump has described Britain’s approach to the conflict in the Middle East as “terrible” and repeatedly lashed out at Sir Keir, at one point branding him “not Winston Churchill”. He has also made dismissive remarks about UK military capabilities, referring to British aircraft carriers as “toys”. Sir Keir, for his part, has repeatedly insisted that the UK will “not get dragged in” to the conflict, stating that it is “not our war”.
Addressing parliament last week, the prime minister sought to downplay the political friction, arguing that the British monarchy is “an important reminder of the longstanding bonds and enduring relationship between our two countries”. He insisted the “special relationship” is “far greater than anyone who occupies any particular office at any particular time”. Downing Street has voiced hope that the King and Queen can help put the UK-US relationship on a firmer footing. Sir Keir has also maintained that intelligence sharing between the two countries continues on a 24/7 basis, despite the political tensions.
The “Atlantic Declaration” signed by then-prime minister Rishi Sunak and President Joe Biden in June 2023 aimed to deepen economic cooperation and move the UK “firmly into the US administration’s economic orbit”, but a full trade deal remains elusive. Some commentators argue the relationship is evolving into a more transactional one, with long-term trends suggesting the US will become less automatically supportive of its allies.
Defence dependence under scrutiny
The state visit comes just hours after a stark warning from a former Nato secretary general that Britain’s military reliance on the United States is “no longer tenable”. Lord George Robertson, who also served as Labour defence secretary from 1997 to 1999 and led Nato from 1999 to 2003, argued that the UK should not expect relations with Washington to return to their previous state—even after Mr Trump leaves office.
In his second attack on the government’s defence policy in less than two weeks, Lord Robertson hit out at what he called Britain’s “naïve belief” that the US would “always be there” in times of crisis. He said such a mentality has diminished the UK’s capabilities, and warned that the country needs to become a “more autonomous military actor”. The former Nato chief, who has overseen defence reviews himself, pointed to long-term shifts in US foreign policy that make it more “transactional” regardless of who occupies the White House.
The implications of this analysis are significant. For decades, the UK has structured its armed forces on the assumption of seamless interoperability with the US, particularly in intelligence, logistics and advanced weaponry. Lord Robertson’s warning suggests that continued dependence on Washington could leave Britain vulnerable if the US becomes less willing to commit to European security or if the political relationship sours further. The current government has faced repeated criticism over defence spending and equipment shortfalls, with some pointing to the reliance on US support as a factor that has allowed successive administrations to underinvest.
The debate over the “special relationship” has also drawn in the broader political context. A recent poll found that nearly half of Britons surveyed thought the state visit should be cancelled or postponed given the current tensions between Mr Trump and Sir Keir, and some UK politicians have called for it to be delayed. The visit is intended to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence, with the King and Queen due to celebrate the milestone at a “block party”.
Epstein controversy and visit itinerary
The carefully choreographed programme risks being overshadowed by persistent calls for the King to meet with survivors of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, due to the late financier’s ties to the King’s brother, Prince Andrew. Sources have said that the King and Queen will not meet with survivors during their visit, despite reports—including in the Mail on Sunday—that the Queen had been approached by victims’ rights groups. US congressman Ro Khanna and the family of Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre have repeatedly pressed for a meeting, with Khanna expressing disappointment that declining could make the King appear “out of touch”. Buckingham Palace has cited ongoing police inquiries as the reason for not holding such a meeting.
The first encounter between the King and Queen and the president and first lady will take place at a private tea, captured by cameras only. Later, Mr Trump and the King will hold talks in the White House’s Oval Office, while Camilla and Melania Trump take part in a joint event. On 28 April, Charles will address a joint meeting of the US Congress—the first such address by a British monarch since Queen Elizabeth II in 1991—and a state banquet will be held at the White House that evening. The King and Queen will also visit New York City, including the September 11 Memorial and a community project in Harlem, and attend an event marking the centenary of Winnie the Pooh. In Virginia, they will visit a national park, a local farm and attend cultural performances. Following the US leg, Charles will travel to Bermuda. There is no expectation of a meeting between the King and his son Prince Harry during the visit.
