Geoff Bennett:
The king and queen of England were received with high diplomatic fanfare this morning at the White House, day two of the royal visit.
Amna Nawaz:
This afternoon, King Charles became just the second monarch to address Congress in this, the 250th anniversary of America declaring independence from the king’s five-times great-grandfather King George III.
Nick Schifrin reports.
Nick Schifrin:
Today, at a rainy White House, there was pomp and pageantry, preening and praising. And after this military ceremony, the U.S.’ highest diplomatic honor, President Trump did what Brits do when things might get a little bit awkward, talk about the weather.
President Donald Trump:
What a beautiful British day this is.
(Laughter)
Nick Schifrin:
President Trump is the son of a Scott and today recalled his mother’s fondness for everything royal, especially a man Trump today called a blessing.
Donald Trump:
I also remember her saying very clearly: “Charles, look, young Charles, he’s so cute.”
(Laughter)
Donald Trump:
My mother. My mother had a crush on Charles.
(Laughter)
Donald Trump:
Can you believe it? Amazing how — I wonder what she’s thinking right now.
Nick Schifrin:
And President Trump celebrated what he called the free world forged together 80 years ago by President Franklin Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
Donald Trump:
That understanding of our nation’s unique bond and role in history is the essence of our special relationship, and we hope it will always remain that way.
This is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with.
Nick Schifrin:
But it was only last month President Trump disparaged the special relationship, after the U.K. declined U.S. requests to use British bases to attack Iran.
Donald Trump:
And I’m not happy. By the way, I’m not happy with the U.K. either.
Nick Schifrin:
And so, today, a king who is officially apolitical met in the Oval Office with the bust of Churchill over the president’s shoulder flanked by both countries’ top diplomats and officials for a moment the British government hopes can help reset the relationship.
But European concern runs deeper. Today, The Financial Times published a February recording of British Ambassador to the U.S. Christian Turner questioning just how much the U.K. can still rely on the U.S.
Christian Turner, British Ambassador:
Special relationship is a phrase I try not utter, because it’s quite nostalgic. It’s quite backwards-working, and it has a lot of sort of baggage about it.
I think there is probably one country that has a special relationship with the United States. And that’s probably Israel, when Europe can’t just rely on a U.S. security umbrella. So the relationship will carry on, if you want, being special, but I see it’s going to have be different.
Nick Schifrin:
Different because President Trump’s questioning European sovereignty and doubting the U.S.’ commitment to NATO has led to European doubts the U.S. will keep providing Europe security, even if in a statement today the British government called Turner’s words — quote — “private informal comments made to a group of U.K. high school students. They are certainly not any reflection of the U.K. government’s position.”
King Charles III, United Kingdom:
America’s words carry weight and meaning, as they have since independence. The actions of this great nation matter even more.
Nick Schifrin:
And so, this afternoon, for only the second time in almost exactly 250 years of separated history, a British monarch addressed a joint meeting of Congress with an appeal to unity.
King Charles III:
Whatever our differences, whatever disagreements we may have, we stand united in our commitment to uphold democracy, to protect all our people from harm and to salute the courage of those who daily risk their lives in the service of our countries.
Nick Schifrin:
That line an echo of the first and before today only British monarch to address a joint session of Congress, Charles’ mother, Queen Elizabeth II, 35 years ago.
Queen Elizabeth II, United Kingdom:
The best progress is made when Europeans and Americans act in concert.
King Charles III:
It is an era that is in many ways more volatile and more dangerous than the world to which my late mother spoke.
Nick Schifrin:
But even if in a soothing baritone, King Charles did not avoid drawing British distinction in his British way with the Trump administration.
King Charles III:
We must also reflect on our shared responsibility to safeguard nature. That same unyielding resolve is needed for the defense of Ukraine and her most courageous people. We answered the call together, as our people have done so for more than a century, shoulder to shoulder.
Nick Schifrin:
But, today, that implicit criticism did not dampen the president riding royal coattails, the White House posting this photo with the caption: “Two kings.”
But what King Charles did not mention today, his brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who has been stripped of his titles for his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and Epstein’s victims. And the king will not meet those victims during this trip to the U.S.
Today, the family of Virginia Giuffre, a victim of Epstein who died last year, said both the king and President Trump should have delivered a message that they stand with survivors. The king’s lawyers told Representative Ro Khanna the king supported all victims of abuse, but because of ongoing police inquiries, he was unable to meet with those survivors.
