King Charles III’s aides moved to downplay the fallout over President Donald Trump’s suggestion that the monarch “agrees with me” on Iran’s nuclear ambitions during a speech at a White House state dinner.
Charles’ office made an exceptionally rare clarification on Tuesday about the king’s position on the Iran war, which has led to a downgrade in Britain’s growth forecast.
The president said in his speech in front of the king: “We’re doing a little Middle East work right now…and we’re doing very well. We have militarily defeated that particular opponent, and we’re never going to let that opponent ever, Charles agrees with me even more than I do, we’re never going to let that opponent have a nuclear weapon. They know that, and they’ve known it right now, very powerfully.”
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson told Newsweek and others: “The King is naturally mindful of his Government’s long-standing and well-known position on the prevention of nuclear proliferation.”
Why It Matters
Long-standing palace policy is it to never clarify comments the royals are reported to have made during public engagements, even when they are inaccurate.
However, Trump’s phrasing was ambiguous about whether the king simply opposed Iran becoming a nuclear power or whether he agreed that the prospect was imminent enough to justify America going to war.
The King’s Gambit in His D.C. Speeches
In particular, the spokesperson stopped short of disclosing the king’s opinion, saying simply that Charles was aware of his government’s position on the subject. That demonstrates just how sensitive the issue of the king’s opinion actually is to Britain.
With that in mind, Trump’s comment could have caused significant tension, particularly if it had been read as support for the war.
However, Charles also helped to defuse the issue in his own speech, with a jokey aside about the Suez Crisis of 1956, in which Britain, France and Israel invaded Egypt to secure the Suez Canal, a vital shipping route, without telling America first.
“And yes, we have had our moments of difficulty even in more recent history,” Charles said. “When my mother visited in 1957, not the least of her tasks was to help put the ‘Special’ back into our Relationship after a crisis in the Middle East. Nearly 70 years on, it is hard to imagine anything like that happening today….”
The king got a healthy laugh from those gathered in the White House, but keen students of international relations may note that Charles’ comment itself was risky. That’s because there is an implicit comparison between the Suez Crisis and the ongoing Iran war, however vague and subtle, and Suez destroyed the career and legacy of then British Prime Minister Anthony Eden, who will always be remembered primarily for one of the biggest missteps in the history of modern British foreign policy. Eden, in fact, had to resign in part because of the crisis.
Henry Brandon, a former Washington correspondent for British newspaper The Sunday Times, at one stage noted: “Sir Eden‘s whole proud career had been scarred by a decision which misfired for lack of American cooperation.”
Trump will presumably be hoping to fare a little better than Eden did.
Political Reactions to King Charles’ Speech
Tuesday was, though, a day in which the king repeatedly gambled by challenging Trump’s world view on NATO, Ukraine, Europe, the rule of law and judicial independence, among other issues.
And he did it all—in the speech to Congress and at the White House state dinner—to rapturous applause from some of the biggest figures in politics and business in America.
Trump told Charles before the speech that he would watch it and wanted to attend in person but was told that would be too much. And even before entering the dinner, as they posed for photos outside, he told Charles how much he loved the speech.
“He made a great speech,” the president said. “I was very jealous.” And Trump elaborated during his own speech on where that jealousy came from.
“I want to congratulate Charles on having made a fantastic speech today at Congress,” Trump said. “He got the Democrats to stand. I’ve never been able to do that. I couldn’t believe it.
“They liked him more than they’ve ever liked any Republican…or Democrat actually. So, I just want to thank you, and congratulations. It’s not an easy thing to do. That’s a tough place.”
King Charles Marks 25 Years Since 9/11 in New York
For the king, the main leg of his U.S. visit is over and New York becons, where he will visit the memorial to the September 11, 2001, terror attacks before a reception celebrating the King’s Trust, one of his most important charities, in its 50th year.
Charles, though, will arrive no doubt feeling like the most delicate phase of the most high-profile State Visit he will likely ever compete had been a success.
And now he can focus on the heartbreaking stories of 9/11 survivors and their families knowing that he kept the American political elite on his side even as he told some hard truths about how Britain sees the international world order under Trump.
About the Author
Discover more from USA NEWS
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
