King Charles III and US President Donald Trump shared a moment of quick-witted banter at the White House dinner on Tuesday, while discussing the “special relationship” between the United Kingdom and the United States, despite ongoing tensions over the war in Iran.
The British King took the opportunity to respond to Trump’s previous remarks on the United States rescuing its European allies.
“You recently commented, Mr President, that if it were not for the United States, European countries would be speaking German. Dare I say that if it wasn’t for us, you’d be speaking French,” he said, prompting laughter from the crowd.
Britain and France had a long history of rivalry in North America before US independence, when both countries battled for territory across the continent.
Trump had earlier made a comment at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in January, where he said that Europeans would be “speaking German and a little Japanese” without American Intervention in World War II.
Charles also referred to British troops burning down parts of the White House during the Burning of Washington in 1814.
He said, “We British, of course, made our own attempt at real estate redevelopment of the White House.”
He continued his throwbacks to British-American history while describing the evening as “a very considerable improvement on the Boston Tea Party”.
Trump took the speech in jest, responding with jokes of his own.
“He got the Democrats to stand – I’ve never been able to do that.” he said, taking aim at the state of domestic politics in the United States.
The monarch paid tribute to the 250th anniversary of American independence from Britain with gratitude that the two countries managed to build “one of the most consequential alliances in human history” while advocating “that we ignore the clarion calls to become ever more inward-looking.”
Charles reiterated the historical and cultural ties that have contributed to the long-standing bond between the United States and the United Kingdom.
