President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump hosted King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the White House for a state visit. The event featured a state dinner on Tuesday and a ceremonial military welcome on the South Lawn. During the welcome ceremony, which took place under gray, drizzly skies, the president quipped that it was a beautiful British day.
Throughout the visit, President Trump praised the cherished bond and special relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom. He stated that in the centuries since the U.S. won its independence, Americans have had no closer friends than the British, expressing hope that the relationship will always remain that way.
The visit takes place during a low point in bilateral relations and a tense moment for Washington and London. Specifically, Trump's relationship with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has taken a sour turn over the past several months as the president has sought international support for the Iran war. The meetings were designed to reaffirm ties despite these strained trans-Atlantic relations.