President Donald Trump was unable to hide his jealousy when he and first lady Melania Trump welcomed King Charles and Queen Camilla to the White House for a state dinner on Tuesday night.
Talking to reporters outside the White House following the royal couple’s arrival, Trump complimented King Charles’ address to Congress earlier in the day, in which he delivered sharp rebukes of the American president’s leadership style while avoiding issuing direct critiques.
“He made a great speech,” Trump told reporters while pointing to the king. “I was very jealous.”
They were flanked on both sides by their wives, both dressed in pink; the queen in Fiona Clare and Melania Trump in Christian Dior Haute Couture.
In his address at the dinner, Trump once again referenced the king’s speech to Congress.
“I want to congratulate Charles on having made a fantastic speech today at Congress,” Trump said. “He got the Democrats to stand, I’ve never been able to do that, I couldn’t believe it,” he added to rapturous applause.
His quip was a reference to the MAGA outrage that erupted after several Democrats declined to stand during Trump’s State of the Union address, including for the U.S. men’s hockey team.
“They liked him more than they’ve ever liked any Republican, or Democrat, actually,” he continued. “Not an easy thing to do, it’s a tough place.”
In his address to Congress on Tuesday afternoon, Charles stressed the importance of the historic alliance between the U.S. and U.K. while touching on several hot-button issues, including NATO, climate change, and the war in Ukraine.
“The story of the United Kingdom and the United States is, at its heart, a story of reconciliation, renewal, and remarkable partnership,” King Charles said. “From the bitter divisions of 250 years ago, we forged a friendship that has grown into one of the most consequential alliances in human history.”
“I pray with all my heart that our alliance will continue to defend our shared values, with our partners in Europe and the Commonwealth, and across the world,” Charles added. “And that we ignore the clarion calls to become ever more inward-looking.”
His comments come after weeks of Trump recklessly torpedoing U.S. relations with key allies, including by lashing out at British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and plotting revenge on NATO allies who have declined to join his war on Iran.
“In the immediate aftermath of 9/11, when NATO invoked Article 5 for the first time, and the United Nations Security Council was united in the face of terror, we answered the call together—as our people have done so for more than a century, shoulder to shoulder, through two World Wars, the Cold War, Afghanistan and moments that have defined our shared security,” Charles said in his address.
The king’s speech received a standing ovation, including from several of the president’s allies in Congress. One of the loudest moments occurred after the king called for the defense of Ukraine and an end to the war, when the entire room stood to applaud.
King Charles and Queen Camilla’s state visit is the first British state visit to the U.S. since Queen Elizabeth II’s 2007 visit.
Their visit began on Monday with a private visit to the White House, including an afternoon tea with the president and first lady and a tour of the White House Beehive, and a garden party at the British ambassador’s residence.
Following their time in D.C., the royal couple will travel to New York, where they have a number of engagements, before returning to D.C. for a formal farewell from the Trumps on Thursday. They will end their visit in Virginia before visiting Bermuda, which is a British Overseas Territory.
