Donald Trump has again drawn the King into the politics of the Iran war, claiming he “would have probably helped” the US with the military operation.
Speaking in the Oval Office about the royal state visit, the US president was asked about the speech King Charles gave to Congress, which contained some not-so-subtle about the US and a warning about executive power.
The King’s speech to Congress: Unpacking his not-so-subtle messaging
Becoming only the second monarch to give a speech to the US Congress, the King delivered his remarks carefully, with respect, with spades of humour and with both history and politics threaded through them.
Trump says he was “very disappointed” in NATO after the US “asked them to do some things about Ukraine and Iran”.
He continues: “The King is fantastic. We spent a lot of time together. We talked a lot. We talked about this also. He loves his country, and he’s a great King. And he’s a great friend.
“I think if he were doing that, if that were up to him, he would have probably helped us with Iran.”
Conversations with the King – who does not get involved in politics – are normally kept private.
During a speech at the White House state dinner last night, Trump said Charles “agrees with me, even more than I do” that Iran should never have a nuclear weapon.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said on the issue: “The King is naturally mindful of his government’s long-standing and well-known position on the prevention of nuclear proliferation.”