Trump looks to dazzle royals while UK’s ‘special relationship’ in peril

The U.K. will seek to smooth over its “special relationship” with the U.S. next week, when it deploys King Charles III for a state visit with President Trump. 

The royal tour comes Trump has lambasted the country’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer for not being supportive of the U.S. war in Iran and its reluctance to help Washington control the Strait of Hormuz. 

Despite Trump’s criticism of Starmer, the president has only had praise for the king and the British royal family. 

“President Trump has always had great respect for King Charles, and their relationship was further strengthened by the president’s historic visit to the United Kingdom last year,” White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said.

“The president looks forward to a special visit by Their Majesties, which will include a beautiful State Dinner and multiple events throughout the week,” she continued. 

Trump said in an interview with the BBC on Thursday that he believes Charles’s visit could “absolutely” help mend relations between the White House and Downing Street.

But the relationship remains in a fragile state.

On Thursday in the Oval Office, Trump threatened to put a “big tariff” on the U.K., which is taxing U.S. tech companies. A Pentagon memo surfaced Friday that laid out potential ideas for punishing countries that have not shown adequate support for the U.S. in its war with Iran, including reviewing the U.K.’s claim to the Falkland Islands.

The visit also takes place as Starmer is facing issues domestically over his appointment of Peter Mandelson as Britain’s ambassador to the U.S. and his subsequent firing over mentions in the Jeffrey Epstein files. And Starmer has stood firm, as recently as Thursday, on keeping his country out of Iran, citing the United Kingdom’s “best national interest.”

Ed Owen, former U.K.........

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