King Charles US visit live: Monarch jokes Trump would be ‘speaking French if it wasn’t for us’ at state dinner
King Charles delivered a well-received address to the US Congress, winning over both supporters and skeptics with a blend of diplomacy and subtle humor. His speech subtly referenced NATO, Ukraine, and the importance of American leadership, while gently poking fun at President Trump without provoking backlash. The performance, marked by 12 standing ovations, was seen as a diplomatic success that transcended typical anti-monarchical sentiment.
- ▪King Charles became the first British monarch in 35 years to address a joint session of the US Congress.
- ▪The speech earned praise even from anti-royalists and was described by one BBC commentator as an underdog victory.
- ▪Charles made veiled jabs at President Trump, including references to British naval strength and the impact of American words and actions.
- ▪Trump later called the speech 'great' and said he was 'jealous' of Charles's performance.
- ▪The address, initially planned for 20 minutes, extended due to 12 standing ovations from the audience.
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NewsWorldAmericas In focusHow King Charles won over anti-monarchists and haters in less than twenty minutesThe King’s address to US Congress has won over a surprising array of fans. As it is described as a ‘Love Actually’ speech, but written by Plato, Katie Rosseinsky explores how Charles found his voice – and even anti-royalists wanted to listenFriday 01 May 2026 12:20 BSTBookmarkCommentsGo to commentsBookmark popoverRemoved from bookmarksClose popover{"translations":{"comments":"Go to comments","share":"Share","copyLink":"Copy link","bookmark":"Bookmark","removeBookmark":"Remove…
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