Donald Trump has hailed the ‘wonderful’ King and revealed they spoke about trade during his state visit amid claims he is preparing to invite Charles to the US.
The President said the monarch ‘likes to talk about the environment’ but was ‘more interested in trade’ during their conversations at Windsor Castle this week.
Mr Trump also told Fox News that the King was a ‘tremendous man who really stepped into a very tough position’ following Queen Elizabeth II‘s death in 2022.
He said Charles ‘went through pretty tough stuff medically’, referring to how the monarch was diagnosed with an unspecified form of cancer in February 2024.
And the President praised the King for how he ascended the throne following the late Queen’s death, which he described as ‘tough’ because she was ‘really beloved’.
After flying back to the US last night, Mr Trump was asked by Fox anchor Martha MacCallum about the monarch’s topics of conversation during his visit.
He said: ‘I think he was more interested in trade, you know he loves the environment too, he likes to talk about the environment, but he was more interested in trade than anything else.
‘We’re working a trade deal with the UK which is going to be a good deal for both, and we’re working it with the Prime Minister and his various representatives, and I think it’s going to be a great deal for both.’
President Donald Trump and King Charles at the Windsor Castle state banquet on Wednesday
King Charles III formally bids farewell to President Donald Trump at Windsor Castle yesterday
Mr Trump continued: ‘We spoke about many things, we were together for a long time, really two days, I just left him, and he’s a great person.
‘I knew him as Prince Charles originally, and now he’s King Charles, and the people love him in this country and he went through pretty tough stuff medically, and he’s doing great.
‘But he’s just a great person, I’ve known him for a long time, always said the same thing, he’s a tremendous man who really stepped into a very tough position.
‘Having to follow Queen Elizabeth is very… she’s got the all-time record probably, always will have, but she was in there for like 70 years or something, and to follow that is pretty tough. She was really beloved.’
Meanwhile a senior White House official has claimed the President was so impressed by his visit that he now wants to invite the King for a state visit to the US.
They told The Telegraph: ‘It was a really fantastic trip. The British know how to do this perfectly. They set the bar high for their trip to see us.’
Separately, reporters asked Mr Trump last night about what he thought the best part of his visit to the UK was and he said: ‘I don’t know, I think just being with King Charles. He’s a wonderful guy.
Donald Trump told Fox News yesterday that the King was ‘interested in trade’ during their talks
Mr Trump was asked by Fox’s Martha MacCallum about the monarch’s topics of conversation
‘I got to know him very well. I knew him before but now I know him a little better.
‘The artwork. I saw more paintings than any human being has ever saw and statues. But they treated us great. They treated our country great.
‘I view that as being really respect for our country the way they did it because last night was beautiful. And we had the biggest people in the world there. That was respect for our country.’
Mr Trump was also asked if the First Lady enjoyed her time with the Princess of Wales after the two women hosted Scouts who received sandwiches made with honey from Kate’s beehive.
He replied: ‘She did. She thought she was great. I did too. I sat with her last night, Melania went with her today, she thought she was great. A very wonderful person. She went through a lot too – but hopefully that’s all gone.
‘William is wonderful. And I knew Charles as a prince and now I know him as a king and he’s doing very well. It was a lovely trip and I thought the press was really nice.’
As he left Windsor Castle and bid a formal farewell to the King yesterday, Mr Trump hailed him as a ‘great gentleman and a great King’.
Queen Camilla, King Charles, Donald and Melania Trump at Windsor Castle on Wednesday
Donald Trump and the King smile together during the state visit in Windsor on Wednesday
At the Sovereign’s Entrance to the castle, the King and Mr Trump shook hands warmly at the top of the steps, with Mr Trump pulling the King’s hand towards him and placing his other hand on top of Charles’s.
There was also a gentle pat on the arm for the King from Mr Trump as they chatted together with ease, nodding their heads.
Looking out towards the gathered media, the president declared, pointing at Charles: ‘Thank you very much, everybody. He’s a great gentleman – a great gentleman and a great King.’
There was a further light pat on the monarch’s left arm and another briefer handshake before Mr Trump made his way down the steps to be driven away in his Beast Cadillac.
Meanwhile, a royal source hailed Mr Trump’s second state visit as a success, saying the president and first lady showed how much they appreciated the ‘awesome spectacle’.
The President and his wife had been ‘very easy to deal with’ throughout their stay at Windsor, the source added.
‘It was very pleasing to see the way the state visit has been warmly received both by the guests and the media on both sides of the Atlantic,’ the source said.
‘It’s a clear sign of soft power and diplomacy. The visiting party was very easy to deal with and very appreciative of the hospitality.
‘All elements of the pomp and pageantry created an awesome spectacle. You can tell from the expression of the principals how much they appreciated it.’
It also emerged that Charles and the President had a private tea in the King’s drawing room after the beating retreat ceremony on Wednesday.
