King Charles cites Magna Carta in US Congress speech
In just the second speech to the US Congress by a British monarch following his mother Elizabeth II in 1991, King Charles pointed to shared democratic traditions that opponents have accused President Donald Trump of undermining.
He noted that the British Magna Carta had been cited in more than 160 US Supreme Court cases, highlighting—to rapt applause from the opposition Democrats—the principle that executive power is subject to checks and balances.
Trump earlier hailed Britain as America’s closest ally as he welcomed Charles and Queen Camilla to the White House with pomp, ceremony, a 21-gun salute, and a flypast.
“In the centuries since we won our independence, Americans have had no closer friends than the British,” Trump said.
The visit comes at a delicate moment, with Trump criticizing Britain over its stance on Iran and other policies.
Jovial tone
Despite the tensions, the US president struck a jovial tone, joking about his Scottish-born mother having “a crush on Charles” and making a jibe about the British weather.
Security has been tight during the visit following an alleged assassination attempt against Trump at a weekend Washington media gala.
“Such acts of violence will never succeed,” Charles said.
Trump hailed Charles’ “fantastic” speech to Congress, adding: “He got the Democrats to stand—I’ve never been able to do that.”
The king received a warm reception from lawmakers in Congress as he urged the United States on Tuesday to stand firm with its Western allies, and broached topics like the environment that Trump often scorns.
Charles stressed that “unyielding resolve” was needed to secure a “just and lasting peace” in Ukraine, which has been fighting a full-scale invasion by Russia since 2022.
At the White House state dinner on Tuesday, Charles and Trump hailed their countries’ long-standing ties—despite the US president claiming the monarch agreed with him on Iran’s nuclear weapons.
Sensitive topic
Over a lavish meal, Charles echoed the tone of his earlier speech to Congress in which he urged London and Washington to stick together, without directly mentioning the tensions over the US-Israeli war with Tehran.
But in his toast to a gala dinner attended by tech titans and golfer Rory McIlroy, Trump made his first public comments on the sensitive topic during the four-day visit by the British royals.
“We have militarily defeated that particular opponent,” Trump said at the White House dinner. “Charles agrees with me even more than I do—we’re never going to let that opponent have a nuclear weapon.”
Trump has repeatedly lambasted British Prime Minister Keir Starmer over his opposition to the Iran war, and there is no indication that King Charles has shown support for the US leader’s stance.
Nevertheless, both leaders strongly praised the “special relationship” between Britain and Washington, putting aside however briefly the transatlantic tensions.
The royals will visit New York on Wednesday, touring the 9/11 memorial, before departing on Thursday for Bermuda.
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