Charles and Trump praise each other and laud ‘special relationship’ in banquet speeches
True to form with an expectedly “big picture” style speech, the king mostly emphasised the shared history and culture between the UK and US, with Trump also sticking to the script and striking a remarkably gracious and sombre tone.
Notably, the only causes the king mentioned by name were efforts to support Ukraine, enhance the trading relationship and protect the environment (Trump is a threat to all three). He praised Trump’s efforts to finding solutions to conflicts around the world, and the US president in return heaped praise and gratitude on Charles for the historic second state visit.
Elements of Trump’s brief remarks were characteristically self-congratulatory, but for the most part he stressed the close bond between the two countries, even declaring “the word special does not begin to do it justice”. That will no doubt be a huge relief for the British political establishment, giving the *awkward* timing of this visit.
Key events
And that’s it, the speeches are done.
Trump says the term “special relationship” “does not begin to do [the bond] justice”.
Trump says of the relationship between the UK and US, “we’re like two notes in one chord or two verses of the same prose”.
“Each beautiful on its own, but really meant to be played together. The bond of kinship and identity between America and the United Kingdom is priceless and eternal. It’s irreplaceable and unbreakable,” he says.
He praises Charles, saying to laughter: “I just stood in line and shook about 150 hands, and the King knew every single person and every single company.”
“Some of them had bad names like ‘XYZ-Q3’ and he knew every one of them, or at least I think he did, because nobody was complaining. I was very impressed with that.”
Trump says it’s been one of the highest honours of his life.
Trump says it has been a “singular privilege” to be the first American president invited for a second state visit.
This is a “first”, he notes. Maybe it will also be the last time, he jokes. “I hope it is actually,” he says to laughter.
Donald Trump is speaking now.
Charles says that in “renewing” the UK-US bond tonight “we do so with unshakeable trust in our friendship and in our shared commitment to independence and liberty”.
He then proposes a toast to Trump and Melania, “and to the health, prosperity and happiness of the people of the United States of America”.
Charles also refers to the need to protect the environment, long a personal cause of his.
And without mentioning specific wars, Charles praises Trump’s “personal commitment to finding solutions to some of the world’s most intractable conflicts”.
Charles also says the Aukus submarine pact signed under the Biden administration, along with Australia, that the US government is currently reviewing, “sets the benchmark for innovative and vital collaboration”.
