{"id":3592,"date":"2026-04-29T08:48:20","date_gmt":"2026-04-29T08:48:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.worldwatchalert.com\/?p=3592"},"modified":"2026-04-29T08:48:22","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T08:48:22","slug":"youd-be-speaking-french-king-charles-jokes-with-trump-at-banquet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.worldwatchalert.com\/?p=3592","title":{"rendered":"‘You\u2019d be speaking French’: King Charles jokes with Trump at banquet"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Washington: <\/strong>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou 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\u2019t for us, you\u2019d be speaking French,\u201d<\/strong> Charles quipped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in January, Trump had said that without US assistance in World War II, \u201cyou\u2019d be speaking German and a little Japanese.\u201d However, Charles\u2019s lighthearted remark reflected the warm tone of the evening as both leaders bonded over the \u201cspecial relationship\u201d between London and Washington, despite tensions over the war in Iran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The king continued with further jokes at Trump\u2019s expense, noting he could not help noticing the \u201creadjustments\u201d to the White House East Wing, which Trump has demolished to build a $400 million ballroom.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am sorry to say that we British, of course, made our own attempt at real estate redevelopment of the White House in 1814,\u201d<\/strong> he added, referring to when British forces set the building on fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Charles also joked that the dinner was \u201ca very considerable improvement on the Boston Tea Party,\u201d<\/strong> the 1773 protest when American colonists dumped British tea into the sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump\u2014an admirer of the British royal family whose mother was from Scotland\u2014reserved most of his humour for domestic political rivals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI want to congratulate Charles on having made a fantastic speech today at Congress,\u201d<\/strong> Trump said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

.@POTUS<\/a>: "I want to congratulate Charles on having made a fantastic speech today at Congress. He got the Democrats to stand \u2014 I've never been able to do that. I couldn't believe it!" \ud83e\udd23 pic.twitter.com\/PRekIhdaDK<\/a><\/p>— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 29, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote>