Washington: Charles III gave US President Donald Trump a taste of his own medicine at a White House state dinner on Tuesday, joking that without the British, Americans would be speaking French.
As the two leaders traded jokes during their dinner toasts, the king referenced previous remarks by Trump aimed at European allies, whom he has accused of freeloading on defence since World War II.
“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,” Charles quipped.
The king was referring to regions in North America with British and French origins, where rival colonial powers once battled for control of the continent before US independence 250 years ago.
At the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in January, Trump had said that without US assistance in World War II, “you’d be speaking German and a little Japanese.” However, Charles’s lighthearted remark reflected the warm tone of the evening as both leaders bonded over the “special relationship” between London and Washington, despite tensions over the war in Iran.
The king continued with further jokes at Trump’s expense, noting he could not help noticing the “readjustments” to the White House East Wing, which Trump has demolished to build a $400 million ballroom.
“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 added, referring to when British forces set the building on fire.
Charles also joked that the dinner was “a very considerable improvement on the Boston Tea Party,” the 1773 protest when American colonists dumped British tea into the sea.
Trump—an admirer of the British royal family whose mother was from Scotland—reserved most of his humour for domestic political rivals.
“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.”
The king, meanwhile, presented a gift as part of a British charm offensive following Trump’s criticism of Prime Minister Keir Starmer over his refusal to support action against Iran.
Charles presented the president with the bell from the British submarine HMS Trump, launched in 1944 during World War II.
“May it stand as a testimony to our nations’ shared history and shining future. And should you ever need to get hold of us, well, just give us a ring,” the king said to applause.